Ali Akbar Rosady
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is set to usher in a new broadcast era, launching its exclusive partnership with Paramount+ with a monumental event, UFC 324. Scheduled for January 24, 2026, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, the card will feature a highly anticipated interim lightweight title bout between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett, alongside the return of women’s mixed martial arts icon Amanda Nunes, who will challenge reigning bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison.
UFC CEO Dana White formally unveiled the stacked lineup for the first numbered event of 2026 during halftime of the Chiefs vs. Cowboys NFL game on Thanksgiving, signaling a significant shift in the promotion’s broadcast strategy. This event marks the debut of a landmark media rights agreement between the UFC and Paramount, moving away from the traditional pay-per-view (PPV) model that has long characterized major UFC events. Under the new arrangement, the entire UFC 324 card will be available to stream at no additional cost for Paramount+ subscribers, a move White described as a "huge win for fans."
The main event pits two of the lightweight division’s most explosive competitors against each other for the interim championship. Justin "The Highlight" Gaethje (27-5 MMA, 10-5 UFC), a former interim champion known for his aggressive, fan-friendly fighting style, enters the contest with a reputation for delivering thrilling performances. Gaethje holds an astounding 14 post-fight bonuses in his 15 UFC appearances, a testament to his propensity for Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night accolades. His career highlights include memorable clashes with former champions Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira, showcasing his elite striking and durability. Gaethje’s most recent outing saw him secure a spectacular knockout victory over Dustin Poirier in July 2023, claiming the symbolic "BMF" title.
Across the Octagon, Paddy "The Baddy" Pimblett (23-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) brings an undefeated UFC record and a rapidly growing fanbase to the interim title picture. The charismatic Liverpudlian has quickly ascended the ranks since his UFC debut in September 2021, earning five performance bonuses across his seven victories. Pimblett’s fighting style blends slick grappling with opportunistic striking, and his post-fight interviews have become a staple of his burgeoning persona. While some of his recent decisions have been debated, his unblemished UFC record speaks to his ability to find a way to win. The winner of this interim title fight is expected to earn a lightweight title unification bout later in the year against the reigning undisputed lightweight champion, Ilia Topuria (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC), who claimed the undisputed belt with a dominant performance over Alexander Volkanovski in February 2025.
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The co-main event promises to be one of the most significant women’s fights in UFC history, featuring the highly anticipated return of "The Lioness" Amanda Nunes (23-5 MMA, 16-2 UFC) against current bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison (19-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC). Nunes, widely regarded as the greatest female mixed martial artist of all time, will emerge from a two-and-a-half-year retirement to reclaim her throne. A UFC Hall of Famer and former two-division champion, Nunes famously held both the bantamweight and featherweight titles simultaneously, dispatching a murderers’ row of opponents including Ronda Rousey, Cris Cyborg, and Valentina Shevchenko (twice). Her last fight before retirement was a dominant title defense against Irene Aldana in June 2023.
Challenging Nunes for the bantamweight strap is Kayla Harrison, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in judo, who transitioned to MMA with unparalleled success in the Professional Fighters League (PFL), where she secured multiple championships. Harrison made her highly anticipated UFC debut last year and has quickly amassed a 3-0 record within the promotion, showcasing her formidable grappling and improving striking. This bout represents a clash of eras and styles, with Harrison’s dominant judo and ground-and-pound against Nunes’s well-rounded striking and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu defense, setting the stage for a compelling championship contest.
UFC CEO Dana White underscored the magnitude of the event in a press release, stating, "Saturday, Jan. 24, in Las Vegas kicks off this incredible partnership with Paramount. I am so excited for UFC fans that our first card has six current and former champions, including the long-awaited return of the greatest female fighter of all time, which is definitely the biggest women’s fight ever. Also, in the main event, we have Justin Gaethje versus Paddy Pimblett for the interim lightweight title to see who will face Ilia Topuria later this year on Paramount+. This card is absolutely stacked — every fight is a must-see. This deal is such a huge win for fans with no more pay-per-view. I look forward to 2026 being our best year ever."
Beyond the headlining acts, the UFC 324 main card features several high-stakes matchups. Former bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley (18-2, 1 NC MMA, 10-2, 1 NC UFC) will begin his journey back to title contention against perennial contender Song Yadong (21-7-1, 1 NC MMA, 10-2-1 UFC). O’Malley, who lost his bantamweight title in a closely contested bout against Merab Dvalishvili in August 2025, aims to reassert his claim in a division he once dominated with his unique striking arsenal. Yadong, a powerful striker with a strong ground game, has consistently proven himself against top-tier competition, making this a pivotal fight for the 135-pound division.
In the heavyweight division, the surging Waldo Cortes Acosta (16-1 MMA, 6-0 UFC) will face fan-favorite knockout artist Derrick "The Black Beast" Lewis (28-12, 1 NC MMA, 19-10 UFC). Cortes Acosta has been remarkably active, fighting six times in the last 10 months, including two victories in November 2025. His relentless schedule and consistent performances have propelled him into the top 15, and a win over a veteran like Lewis, known for his devastating one-punch knockout power and numerous UFC knockout records, would be a significant step up.
Rounding out the main card is the return of featherweight contender Arnold Allen (20-3 MMA, 11-1 UFC), who will end an 18-month layoff to face knockout artist Jean Silva (14-2 MMA, 3-0 UFC). Allen, currently ranked among the top featherweights, looks to rebound from his last loss to Max Holloway in April 2024. Silva, meanwhile, has made an impressive entry into the UFC with three consecutive finishes, showcasing his explosive striking. This matchup has significant implications for the crowded featherweight division.
The preliminary card for UFC 324 is equally robust, featuring a series of matchups with divisional relevance. The featured preliminary bout will see a clash of former champions as current women’s flyweight champion Alexa Grasso (17-3 MMA, 9-3 UFC) takes on former women’s strawweight champion Rose "Thug" Namajunas (13-6 MMA, 7-5 UFC). Grasso, who famously defeated Valentina Shevchenko for the flyweight title, seeks to defend her belt against Namajunas, who made a successful move to flyweight in her last outing.
Also on the preliminary card, a high-level bantamweight bout pits the undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov (18-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) against former flyweight champion Deiveson "Deus da Guerra" Figueiredo (24-3-1 MMA, 13-3-1 UFC). Nurmagomedov, cousin of Khabib Nurmagomedov, is renowned for his elite grappling and striking, posing a significant threat in the 135-pound division. Figueiredo, a four-time flyweight champion, has successfully transitioned to bantamweight and continues to be a formidable presence. This fight will undoubtedly propel the winner into the bantamweight title conversation.
Completing the announced preliminary fights, middleweights Ateba Gautier (12-2 MMA, 2-0 UFC) and Andrey Pulyaev (11-3 MMA, 2-1 UFC) are set to clash, providing further action for early viewers.
The UFC 324 main card will commence at a new time of 9 p.m. ET, with the preliminary card beginning at 7 p.m. ET and the early prelims kicking off at 5 p.m. ET. All fights will be available for live streaming exclusively on Paramount+.
In addition to the UFC 324 announcements, White also confirmed a significant headliner for UFC 325, scheduled for January 31, 2026, in Sydney, Australia. Former featherweight champion Alexander "The Great" Volkanovski (26-4 MMA, 13-3 UFC) will defend his featherweight title in a highly anticipated rematch against Diego Lopes (24-6 MMA, 3-1 UFC). Volkanovski previously defeated Lopes by unanimous decision to claim the vacant featherweight title in April 2025, following his loss to Ilia Topuria. This rematch offers Lopes an opportunity for redemption and Volkanovski a chance to solidify his renewed reign in the featherweight division.
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