HYDEN BLOG: UFC 324’s Card After Kayla Harrison Injury, Ray Sefo Leaves PFL

HYDEN BLOG: UFC 324’s Card After Kayla Harrison Injury, Ray Sefo Leaves PFL

By: Frank Hyden, MMATorch Senior Columnist

The long trek through the desert is nearly over. MMA events are nearly
back. UFC 324 is next weekend, as the UFC makes its debut on Paramount+.

UFC 324’s main card-
Arnold Allen (20-3) vs. Jean Silva (16-3)
You’d expect some fireworks early and often in this one but we’ll have
to see. Perhaps the threat of not wanting to be finished two fights in
a row (Silva) or not wanting to lose three of your last four (Allen)
will lead to a bit more caution?
Silva is favored but I think this is a really close fight that could go either way.

Natalia Silva (19-5-1) vs. Rose Namajunas (14-7)
Namajunas is a two-time former UFC Strawweight Champion. Silva is on a
13-fight winning streak and is heavily favored. I think that holds up,
but Silva will likely have to grind out a decision here.

Waldo Cortes-Acosta (16-2) vs. Derrick Lewis (29-12, 1 No Contest)
Cortes-Acosta is favored but Lewis is incredibly dangerous. I think we
either get an exciting short fight or a dull three-round decision. Either way, I think Lewis pulls the upset.

Sean O’Malley (18-3, 1 No Contest) vs. Song Yadong (22-8-1, 1 No Contest)
O’Malley is a former UFC Bantamweight Champion. O’Malley is favored as
he looks to reverse his trajectory, his last two fights have both been
losses to former UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili (21-5).
I’ll pick O’Malley to grind out the decision win.

Justin Gaethje (26-5) vs. Paddy Pimblett (23-3)
This fight is to crown the new Interim UFC Lightweight Champion.
Gaethje is a former Interim UFC Lightweight Champion. Pimblett is the
favorite but I don’t think he’ll be able to get the fight to the ground unless Gaethje wants it there. We’ll see but I think Gaethje
knocks Pimblett out in the third round, maybe in the second round if
Gaethje is aggressive.

*************

A fight between UFC Bantamweight Champion Kayla Harrison (19-1) and
former UFC Featherweight and two-time former UFC Bantamweight Champion
Amanda Nunes (23-5) was scheduled to co-main event this card but
Harrison has suffered a neck injury that requires surgery and had to pull out.

As I write this, there’s been no word as to when this fight will be rescheduled.
That’s the official statement but I have serious doubts as to when or if that even happens.

I’m not a doctor and I certainly don’t want to speculate but anytime
“neck injury” is mentioned in the sports world, I immediately jump to
this possibly being a career-ender. I sure hope not and maybe this is
just my own coping mechanism because I always expect the worst so I
can’t be disappointed (after the initial disappointment, I mean).
I’m not a great athlete like the people I write about but I’ve watched
and listened to enough of them over the years to know that a neck
injury can be extremely serious. It can end, or at least shorten, your career.
I hate injuries, as we all do, because I want to see the best of the
best compete.

I was really looking forward to watching Harrison and Nunes fight. It
would have been incredible to watch such amazing talent go at it.
I’m hoping that Harrison has a full recovery. It’d be great if she recovered quickly and they’re still able to have this fight. However,
the most important thing is obviously Harrison’s health.

*************

Former ISKA, World Muay Thai, and WKA World Champion Ray Sefo has
parted ways with the PFL. Sefo was one of the founding members of the
World Series of Fighting and was President of the WSOF, remaining in
that position when they rebranded as the PFL.

PFL has been undergoing some restructuring over the past few years,
seeing a CEO change last year, among other changes. The PFL will run
its first event of 2026 next month on February 7, as PFL Lightweight
Champion Usman Nurmagomedov (20-0, 1 No Contest) will defend his title
against Alfie Davis (20-5-1) and a fight between Ramazan Kuramagomedov
(13-0) and Shamil Musaev (18-0-1) will crown the inaugural PFL
Welterweight Champion.

If you’re a collector (action figures, statues, comics, cards, and more), you should check out
Nibble on the Toyrat website!
It’s an amazing experience that allows you to catalog your own collection, search for items you want (across multiple storefronts!),
and buy/sell items with other users! You can even create and order
your own custom toys!
It’s an incredible tool that you can use and there’s so much more I
haven’t even mentioned. I would highly recommend that anyone interested in collecting should join. Thank you.

My new epic fantasy book is out. It’s called Kingdom of Zarias: The End’s
Beginning. The exciting epic fantasy series Kingdom of Zarias returns with the 4th book in the series. After the harrowing events of
Book 3 the residents of the Kingdom of Zarias continue on their paths.
Serena Summers continues to learn and grow as a fighter, desperately
seeking to become stronger before she loses anyone else in her life.
Daniel Summers discovers new parts of the world that open his eyes to
just how little he truly knows. A new hero, Lamar Abeers, arrives to
join the fight against evil. Plus, Zach Summers, Tiana Highsmith, and
Xavien Ekens continue their journeys with their friends, and a new ruler of Vhaharen is crowned. The world has found a little peace.
However, that peace is only temporary. In a shocking act of violence,
the monstrous villain Galren strikes from the shadows and changes the
world forever. This is Book 4 in the series. There’s lots of action, magic, and monsters in the Kingdom of Zarias. It’s like a tabletop
game in novel form. It’s on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and many other
places. If you’re interested, I would greatly appreciate it if you would check it out and support me. Thank you very much, have a good day.

Comments and suggestions can be emailed to me at
hydenfrank@gmail.com and you can follow me on Twitter at @hydenfrank.
Thanks for reading and have a good day.