Kayla Harrison expected to fight later this year, says manager

Kayla Harrison, current UFC women's bantamweight champion, has not fought since winning the title from Julianna Peña last October. After missing her first title defense due to a neck injury and subsequent surgery, manager Ali Abdelaziz confirmed she will compete in 2026, likely towards the end of the year. Abdelaziz stressed the importance of Harrison taking her time to fully recover before returning to the octagon, as she remains a key figure in the division. Former champion Amanda Nunes, who came out of retirement to challenge Harrison, declined an interim title match during Harrison's recovery.

• 7:30 PMYahoo Sports — Ali Abdelaziz says UFC champ Kayla Harrison will fight this year 'for sure'