Kayla Harrison could’ve been left paralysed without surgery on serious injury

Kayla Harrison faced paralysis if she didn’t seek immediate surgery for a neck injury.

The UFC women’s bantamweight champion was scheduled to make her first title defence at UFC 324 this weekend, but last week pulled out of her bout against Amanda Nunes.

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Harrison suffered a herniated disc in her neck and broke down in tears when she confirmed reports in an emotional update from hospital.

“This is day one of recovery and the road back starts now,” she said, after detailing travelling to have surgery on her neck in New York City.

Thankfully, the 35-year-old seems to be on the mend, with UFC CEO Dana White set to rebook the highly anticipated clash, which he described as ‘the greatest women’s fight ever’, later this year.

However, if Harrison hadn’t taken quick action on her injury concerns, the result could’ve been far different.

Harrison’s neck injury could’ve paralysed her

Her manager, Ali Abdelaziz, spoke to Submission Radio this week and revealed she risked paralysis if she had avoided surgery.

“Kayla’s not been 100 per cent for the last three years,” Abdelaziz said.

“Since her PFL days, she always had tingling. She couldn’t lift her arm…

“The UFC flew her to New York, and the doctors said she immediately needs surgery because if she doesn’t get surgery, it could paralyse her.

“But immediately after the surgery, all the pain is gone.”

After claiming two Olympic gold medals in Judo, Harrison made a name for herself in mixed martial arts under the PFL banner.

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She went undefeated in her first 15 fights, suffering her first and only professional loss to Larissa Pacheco in 2022.

Harrison signed with the UFC in 2024, debuting with a dominant submission win over Holly Holm in April of that year.

She then outpointed Ketlen Vieira at UFC 307 before winning her first title in White’s promotion by submitting Julianna Pena last June.

Harrison was in the process of another brutal weight cut in preparation for the legendary Nunes, but will now have to wait to cement her status as the world’s best female fighter.

This week, White provided an update on when he expects the fight to happen.

“This fight is the greatest female fight ever,” White told TMZ Sports.

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“You can’t just throw somebody else in there. You wait until she’s ready and you do the fight.

“Amanda’s so awesome to work with. I’ve had a great relationship with her since day one…

“The surgery went well [for Harrison]. She should make a full recovery and we should be able to do the fight this year.”

Nunes has said she’ll happily wait for Harrison to make a full recovery before ending her three-year layoff from the sport.

The Brazilian is the only female in history to hold two UFC titles simultaneously.