Ali Akbar Rosady
UFC 324, scheduled for January 24 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, will mark the inaugural event under the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s new, exclusive media rights agreement with Paramount+. The fight card, announced by UFC CEO Dana White during the Thanksgiving Day halftime show of the Chiefs vs. Cowboys NFL game, is headlined by an interim lightweight championship bout between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett. The co-main event features the highly anticipated return of Amanda "The Lioness" Nunes, who will challenge women’s bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison.
This partnership with Paramount+ signifies a pivotal shift in the UFC’s broadcasting strategy, transitioning away from the traditional pay-per-view (PPV) model for numbered events. Under the new agreement, subscribers to Paramount+ will have access to the entire UFC 324 event, including the main card, preliminary bouts, and early prelims, at no additional cost beyond their monthly subscription. This move is projected to significantly enhance accessibility for fans and potentially expand the sport’s global reach, marking a strategic evolution from previous broadcast arrangements with partners like ESPN+ and Fox Sports.
The main event pits two of the lightweight division’s most compelling figures against each other for the interim title. Justin "The Highlight" Gaethje (25-4 professional MMA record, 8-4 UFC), a former interim lightweight champion, is renowned for his aggressive, all-action fighting style and remarkable resilience. Gaethje has earned an astounding 14 post-fight bonuses in his 19 UFC appearances, a testament to his consistently thrilling performances. His last outing saw him claim the ceremonial BMF title with a spectacular head-kick knockout over Dustin Poirier at UFC 291 in July 2023, showcasing his devastating striking power. Prior to that, he had challenged Charles Oliveira for the undisputed lightweight title in May 2022, falling short in a submission loss. His career is characterized by high-stakes battles against the division’s elite, including encounters with Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson.
Facing Gaethje is the undefeated Paddy "The Baddy" Pimblett (20-0 professional MMA record, 7-0 UFC), who has rapidly ascended through the lightweight ranks since his UFC debut. Known for his charismatic personality and opportunistic finishing abilities, Pimblett has secured five performance bonuses in his seven UFC victories. A former Cage Warriors Featherweight Champion, Pimblett transitioned to the UFC with considerable hype, which he has largely lived up to with a series of finishes, primarily submissions. His last recorded fight was a unanimous decision victory over Jared Gordon in December 2022, though some observers questioned the judges’ scoring. A win against Gaethje would not only extend his undefeated streak but also propel him into an undisputed title unification bout later in the year against reigning lightweight champion Ilia Topuria. The stylistic clash is expected to be a dynamic encounter, pitting Gaethje’s relentless pressure and striking against Pimblett’s grappling prowess and developing stand-up game.
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The co-main event features a monumental clash in the women’s bantamweight division as Amanda "The Lioness" Nunes (22-5 professional MMA record), widely regarded as the greatest female mixed martial artist of all time, emerges from a two-and-a-half-year retirement to challenge current champion Kayla Harrison (16-1 professional MMA record, 3-0 UFC). Nunes, a UFC Hall of Famer, previously held both the bantamweight and featherweight titles simultaneously, establishing an unparalleled reign of dominance. Her illustrious career includes victories over an extensive list of combat sports legends, such as Ronda Rousey, Cris Cyborg, Valentina Shevchenko (twice), Miesha Tate, and Holly Holm. Nunes announced her retirement after defending her bantamweight title against Irene Aldana at UFC 289 in June 2023, leaving a significant void in the women’s divisions. Her return against Harrison is being hailed by Dana White as "definitely the biggest women’s fight ever."
Kayla Harrison, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in judo, entered the UFC in 2025 after an incredibly dominant tenure in the Professional Fighters League (PFL), where she amassed a 15-1 record and secured two lightweight tournament championships. Since joining the UFC, Harrison has quickly established herself with a 3-0 record, demonstrating her elite-level grappling and evolving striking. This title defense against Nunes represents the most significant challenge of her MMA career and an opportunity to cement her status at the pinnacle of women’s combat sports. The matchup is a compelling clash of styles, with Harrison’s world-class judo and ground game facing Nunes’ powerful striking, defensive grappling, and extensive championship experience.
Dana White emphasized the significance of the card, stating in a press release, "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." He added, "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, UFC 324 features a robust main card comprising several high-stakes matchups. Former bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley (18-1 professional MMA record, 1 NC) will embark on his journey back to title contention against perennial top contender Song Yadong (21-7 professional MMA record, 1 NC). O’Malley, known for his flashy striking and knockout power, will aim to rebound from his recent title loss to Merab Dvalishvili, while Yadong seeks to solidify his position in the division’s upper echelon.
In the heavyweight division, Waldo Cortes Acosta (11-1 professional MMA record) is scheduled for his sixth fight in 10 months, taking on fan favorite and knockout artist Derrick "The Black Beast" Lewis (27-12 professional MMA record, 1 NC). Cortes Acosta’s impressive activity level, which included two bouts in November against lower-ranked opponents, will be tested against Lewis, who holds the UFC record for most knockouts in heavyweight history. Lewis, despite a recent mixed record, remains a dangerous opponent capable of ending any fight with a single punch.
Rounding out the main card is the return of featherweight contender Arnold "Almighty" Allen (19-2 professional MMA record), who will compete after an 18-month layoff against knockout artist Jean Silva (12-2 professional MMA record). Allen, who previously amassed a 10-fight win streak in the UFC before a decision loss to Max Holloway in April 2023, will look to reassert his presence in the division. Silva, known for his aggressive style and finishing instincts, presents a formidable challenge.
The preliminary card for UFC 324 also features several compelling matchups. The featured prelim will see former UFC women’s flyweight champion Alexa Grasso (16-3 professional MMA record) face former women’s strawweight champion Rose "Thug" Namajunas (12-6 professional MMA record). Grasso, who famously dethroned Valentina Shevchenko twice, will look to continue her reign, while Namajunas, having moved up to flyweight, seeks to establish herself in a new division.
A high-level bantamweight bout is scheduled between the undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov (17-0 professional MMA record) and former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo (22-3 professional MMA record, 1 NC). Nurmagomedov, a cousin of former lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, boasts an unblemished record and elite grappling skills. Figueiredo, after a storied reign at flyweight, has successfully transitioned to bantamweight, showcasing his diverse skillset. Lastly, middleweights Ateba Gautier (6-1 professional MMA record) and Andrey Pulyaev (10-2 professional MMA record) are slated to clash.
For UFC 324, the main card will commence at a new time of 9 p.m. ET (6 p.m. PT). The preliminary card is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. ET (4 p.m. PT), with the early prelims kicking off at 5 p.m. ET (2 p.m. PT). The entire event will be available for streaming exclusively on Paramount+ with a valid subscription.
In a separate announcement, Dana White also revealed a headlining event for UFC 325, scheduled for January 31 in Sydney, Australia. Featherweight champion Alexander "The Great" Volkanovski (26-4 professional MMA record) will defend his title against Diego Lopes (23-6 professional MMA record). This bout marks a rematch for the featherweight title, following their previous encounter in April 2024, where Volkanovski defeated Lopes by unanimous decision to claim the vacant championship. Lopes, despite the loss, earned significant praise for his performance against the dominant Australian champion, and this rematch presents an opportunity for him to avenge that defeat and claim the undisputed title.
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