Photo by Amy Kaplan/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Teammate reveals Kayla Harrison already back in training two months after neck surgery

Originally posted on HITC | By Kyle Dimond | Last updated Mar 24, 2026 10:34 AM ET

Kayla Harrison is wasting no time getting back to training after a tough blow to her career.

The bantamweight champion opened up about how difficult it was to pull out of her title defence against Amanda Nunes, saying that a neck injury forced her to withdraw from the bout.

Harrison needed surgery on two discs in her neck, and the decision also ruled her out of the White House card in June.

Harrison’s manager revealed she couldn’t lift her arm before the surgery, but recent updates show she’s making good progress in her recovery.

Kayla Harrison back at American Top Team, Johnny Eblen says

Back in January, Kayla Harrison returned to American Top Team, showing the scar from her surgery as she caught up with coaches and teammates.

One of those teammates, Johnny Eblen, has been preparing for his own return to action. He’s set to headline PFL Pittsburgh against Bryan Battle on March 28.

Eblen told Bloody Elbow in a March 20 interview that he had seen Harrison getting some work in earlier that day.

“I literally just saw her today, gave her a big hug and she seems in good spirits,” he recalled. “She’s training. I think she was doing like some strength and conditioning work, but she looks good, man.

“You can’t tell that she had a surgery. She seemed happy. She seemed like she was on the road to recovery and I really think that she’s in a good place.”

American Top Team also shared a photo of Harrison by the mats on Instagram with the caption ‘unbreakable.’

Dana White spoke about the situation earlier this month after initially announcing Harrison for the ‘Freedom 250’ card at UFC 326.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: