UFC women’s bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison days fighting at 135 lbs could be numbered as she recovers from neck surgery.

Kayla Harrison was supposed to square off with former UFC two-division champion Amanda Nunes in the UFC 324 co-main event, but Harrison was forced to withdraw due to a neck injury. After undergoing extensive surgery, Harrison is targeting a return to the Octagon sometime this summer, likely against the returning Nunes.

Harrison’s expected showdown with Nunes will arguably be the biggest fight in women’s MMA history. After a long, decorated tenure in the PFL’s lightweight division, Harrison made a huge weight sacrifice to make her UFC dreams come true, beginning at UFC 300.

But Harrison admitted that the Nunes fight could be the last of her legendary career, unless the UFC accepts her ultimatum.

Kayla Harrison teases plans to attempt to pitch 145 division revival

In a recent appearance on Jorge Masvidal’s Death Row MMA podcast, Harrison admitted that retirement is a strong possibility after fighting Nunes if the UFC doesn’t give in to her recently revealed demands.

“Yeah, dude. That’s the plan,” Harrison said on “Death Row MMA” while speaking with Jorge Masivdal and Chris Duncan. “They don’t know it, but once I f*ck up Amanda, I’m just gonna be like, ‘Listen.’ … I’m gonna ask them to make a 145 so I can be more active.

“Unless Valentina [Shevchenko] wants to fight, because I know she’s a 125er, then I would cut down again. ‘Cause she’s a legacy fight. I’d fight her at ’35. I think other than that, I’ll either – if they don’t want to make 145, then I’m just gonna say like, ‘Thank you, it’s been great.’ You know? I’m satisfied. It’s just taking years off my life. I’m not gonna lie to you.” (h/t MMA Junkie)

Harrison has successfully weighed in at the bantamweight limit (135 lbs) three times in her promotional tenure. Despite successfully making weight, Harrison has looked extremely drained on the scales, raising concerns about her long-term health.

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