Kayla Harrison decision clarified as UFC 324 fight raised life-threatening concerns

On Thursday, Harrison addressed the UFC 324 cancellation through a social media video. The two-time Olympic gold medalist, speaking from her hospital bed after surgery, offered an apology to Nunes.

Her manager, Ali Abdelaziz, later shared more details. He explained that the injury was not new and had actually been an issue for the 35-year-old for as long as six years.

This time though, it became impossible to play through it any longer.

Abdelaziz posted on X: “Obviously, everyone knows by now that Kayla postponed her fight with Amanda Nunes.

“I honestly don’t know how she’s been fighting for the last five or six years with this kind of injury. But it reached a point where it was necessary – continuing would have put her life and long-term health at serious risk.”

He continued: “One thing about @KaylaH: she always comes back stronger and better. I can’t wait. This comeback will be legendary. Stay tuned.”

Ali Abdelaziz previously cast doubt on Amanda Nunes’ return for UFC 324

With Harrison now sidelined by injury, it is interesting to look back at some of the comments Abdelaziz made in 2025, which have not aged well.

When Nunes’ comeback was first announced, Abdelaziz openly questioned whether she would actually step into the Octagon, even suggesting the UFC should line up a backup fighter.

Abdelaziz went as far as to suggest that Nunes might not even make weight for the bout and publicly asked the UFC to have another fighter ready just in case.

Speaking on Submission Radio, he said: “I don’t know if Amanda will show up. That’s why I was asking the UFC, ‘Please have a backup.’

“I don’t know if she will actually make the weight, make the cut. It’s really hard, especially when you make a whole bunch of money.

“She is coming back because she missed the attention. She is not getting attention anywhere else, and she hates that Kayla is getting all the attention that she used to.”