UFC 324: Gaethje vs. Pimblett

Written by a combat sports analyst with 10+ years covering UFC events, fight cards, and MMA results.

UFC 324 was supposed to be the perfect launch event — a stacked fight card, a historic broadcast debut, and a main event tailor-made for fireworks. It delivered on every front. Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett turned T-Mobile Arena upside down on January 24, 2026, producing one of the most violent and emotionally charged interim title fights in recent UFC memory. If you missed it, or if you want every detail in one place — fight card, results, start times, and what it all means — this guide has you covered.

01 What Is UFC 324? The Event at a Glance

UFC 324 — officially titled UFC 324: Gaethje vs. Pimblett — was a numbered pay-per-view-free event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). It marked the promotion’s very first broadcast under its landmark seven-year, $7.7 billion domestic deal with Paramount+, making it one of the most historically significant UFC events in years.

02 When Was UFC 324? Date, Start Time & Location

When is UFC 324? UFC 324 took place on Saturday, January 24, 2026.

What time did UFC 324 start? The preliminary card (prelims) kicked off at 5:00 PM ET, with the main card starting at 9:00 PM ET.

Where is UFC 324? The event was held at the iconic T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada — one of the premier combat sports venues in the world, with a capacity of around 20,000 fans.

What time is UFC 324 for international fans?

03 How to Watch UFC 324 — Where to Watch & Stream

How to watch UFC 324? This was the first UFC event to air exclusively on Paramount+ as part of the UFC’s new multi-billion-dollar broadcast deal. No traditional PPV purchase was required.

Where to watch UFC 324:

• Paramount+ — Main card (9 PM ET) and prelims (5 PM ET)
• UFC Fight Pass — Early prelims and replay access
• Brenden Theatres and select cinemas — Live theatrical screenings

04 UFC 324 Full Fight Card — Main Card & Prelims

Main Card (9:00 PM ET | Paramount+)

Prelims (5:00 PM ET | Paramount+)

Early Prelims

05 UFC 324 Main Event Breakdown: Gaethje vs. Pimblett

This was the fight the MMA world had circled. Justin Gaethje — “The Highlight,” 26-5 — entered as the battle-tested veteran hunting interim gold for the second time in his career. Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett — 23-3, 7-0 in the Octagon — stepped in as the younger, hungrier, and far more divisive pick, someone the UFC had clearly invested in as a future star.

UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria had stepped away from competition in early 2026 for personal reasons related to his family, refusing to hold the division hostage. That created the opening for this interim title clash.

What happened in the fight

The first round was pure chaos. Gaethje went back to his old wrecking-ball style, throwing big shots from the opening bell and hurting Pimblett early. Most fighters might wilt under that pressure. Pimblett didn’t. He absorbed the storm, found his footing, and began firing back — refusing to go down despite absorbing significant punishment.

Rounds two through five evolved into a full-blown war of attrition. Pimblett adjusted beautifully, taking the center of the cage in the third round and using his distance striking to slow Gaethje’s forward pressure. Gaethje was relentless, bloodying Pimblett’s face over the final 10 minutes while the Liverpudlian kept throwing combinations right up to the final bell.

When the judges’ scorecards came in — 48-47, 49-46, 49-46 — Justin Gaethje was declared the winner by unanimous decision, capturing the interim UFC Lightweight Championship for the second time in his career.

“That Scouser does not get knocked out. My God, what a gangster.” — Justin Gaethje, Post-fight · UFC 324 · January 2026

“I wanted to leave with that belt, but there’s no other man I’d rather lose to.” — Paddy Pimblett, Post-fight · UFC 324 · January 2026

06 UFC 324 Co-Main Event: Sean O’Malley vs. Song Yadong

“Suga” Sean O’Malley desperately needed a bounce-back win. Coming off back-to-back losses — both to Merab Dvalishvili — a third defeat would have severely damaged his path back to the bantamweight title. He got the job done against former No. 5-ranked Song Yadong, earning a unanimous decision victory in a closely contested 15-minute fight. The result reignited his title aspirations.

07 UFC 324 Canceled Fights — What Happened?

Two fights were pulled from the UFC 324 card before or on fight day:

1. Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes (Women’s Bantamweight Title — CANCELED)

This was arguably the most anticipated women’s fight in years. Kayla Harrison, the reigning UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion and two-time Olympic judo gold medalist, was set to defend her title against Amanda Nunes — widely regarded as the greatest female MMA fighter of all time. Harrison pulled out after being diagnosed with herniated discs in her neck, requiring surgery. She was projected to miss at least half of 2026.

2. Michael Johnson vs. Alexander Hernandez (Lightweight — CANCELED)

This fight was pulled on the day of the event. UFC CEO Dana White later confirmed it was removed due to betting concerns after notable movement on the betting lines raised red flags with the promotion.

08 UFC 324 Results: Every Winner at a Glance

09 UFC 324 Prelims — Key Storylines

Umar Nurmagomedov delivered one of the most technically polished performances of the night, controlling Deiveson Figueiredo from bell to bell and sweeping all three judges’ scorecards. For a fighter who had come up short against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 311, it was a significant statement win, showing he still belongs in any conversation about the bantamweight top five.

Nikita Krylov turned heads by stopping Modestas Bukauskas in round three — a result that defied expectations given Krylov’s two-fight losing streak heading into the card.

Alex Perez reinforced his position as a dangerous gatekeeper in the flyweight division with a dominant stoppage win over Charles Johnson.

10 UFC 324 Odds & Predictions — How Did They Play Out?

Heading into the event, the betting lines told an interesting story:

• Gaethje was installed as a slight underdog against the younger Pimblett, who carried momentum and the UFC’s promotional push behind him
• O’Malley entered as a moderate favorite over Song Yadong
• Cortes-Acosta was favored over veteran Derrick Lewis, whose best days were seen as behind him

The results largely followed the money — with Gaethje’s victory over Pimblett being the biggest surprise against the opening lines, where Pimblett had more support from casual fans expecting the promotion’s chosen star to claim gold.

11 What UFC 324 Means for the Lightweight Division

Justin Gaethje now holds the interim UFC Lightweight Title and has earned the right to face undisputed champion Ilia Topuria in a unification fight whenever “El Matador” returns from his personal leave.

Gaethje himself expressed interest in fighting at a White House event during his post-fight press conference — a rare and historic possibility that would give their unification bout an unmatched platform.

For Paddy Pimblett, the loss stings, but it does not close the door. He showed genuine toughness and world-class chin in a main event against one of the sport’s most violent strikers. His next fight — likely a top-five opponent — will define whether UFC 324 was a temporary setback or a ceiling-check moment.

12 UFC 324 and the Paramount+ Era — A New Chapter for UFC

UFC 324 was far more than just another numbered event. It officially launched the UFC’s $7.7 billion partnership with Paramount+, replacing the long-running ESPN+ deal. According to Dana White, the event surpassed all of Paramount’s expectations in terms of viewership and engagement — a strong early sign that the new broadcast home can sustain the UFC’s massive fanbase.

The event also introduced an updated bonus structure: Performance of the Night and Fight of the Night bonuses increased from $50,000 to $100,000, with additional $25,000 bonuses for standout knockouts or submissions not selected among the standard awards.

In a memorable broadcast moment, former two-time UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz was announced as the next “modern wing” inductee into the UFC Hall of Fame during International Fight Week in Las Vegas.

13 UFC Schedule: What Comes After UFC 324?

UFC 324 was the first numbered card of 2026. The schedule that followed:

• UFC 325: Volkanovski vs. Lopes 2
• UFC Fight Night: Bautista vs. Oliveira
• UFC Fight Night: Strickland vs. Hernandez
• UFC 326: Holloway vs. Oliveira 2
• UFC 327: Procházka vs. Ulberg
• UFC 328: Chimaev vs. Strickland

UFC events typically run every two to three weeks throughout the year, mixing numbered PPV-tier events with UFC Fight Night cards. Always check UFC.com or Paramount+ for the most current UFC schedule, start times, and broadcast details.

14 Who Owns the UFC?

The UFC is owned by Endeavor Group Holdings, the entertainment and talent agency giant led by Ari Emanuel. Endeavor acquired the UFC in 2016 for approximately $4 billion. Dana White serves as UFC CEO and President, having led the promotion since 2001. The promotion is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, and is the world’s largest Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) organization by revenue, talent, and global reach.

15 What Is UFC? A Quick Primer for New Fans

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is the world’s premier Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) promotion. Founded in 1993, the UFC hosts events globally where athletes compete across a range of weight classes using a combination of striking, wrestling, and grappling disciplines. Fights take place inside the octagon-shaped cage — simply called “the Octagon” — and end by knockout, submission, technical knockout, or judges’ decision.

Weight classes range from Strawweight (115 lbs) to Heavyweight (265 lbs) for men, and Strawweight (115 lbs) to Bantamweight (135 lbs) for women.

16 UFC 324 FAQs

Q: When was UFC 324?

A: UFC 324 took place on Saturday, January 24, 2026 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Q: What time did UFC 324 start?

A: The prelims started at 5:00 PM ET and the main card started at 9:00 PM ET on Paramount+.

Q: Where was UFC 324 held?

A: UFC 324 was held at T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada, part of the greater Las Vegas Valley.

Q: How could fans watch UFC 324?

A: UFC 324 streamed exclusively on Paramount+. As the first event under the UFC’s new broadcast deal, no additional PPV purchase was required beyond a standard Paramount+ subscription.

Q: Who won the UFC 324 main event?

A: Justin Gaethje defeated Paddy Pimblett by unanimous decision (48-47, 49-46, 49-46) to capture the interim UFC Lightweight Championship for the second time in his career.

Q: Why was Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes canceled at UFC 324?

A: Kayla Harrison was diagnosed with herniated discs in her neck requiring surgery, forcing her withdrawal from the bout. The fight is expected to be rescheduled at a later date.

17 How UFC 324 Ranked Among Recent UFC Events

UFC 324 arrived during a stretch of memorable UFC numbered events, including UFC 316, UFC 317, UFC 318, UFC 319, UFC 320, UFC 321, UFC 322, and UFC 323. What separated it from the pack was the historic broadcast context — it opened an entirely new commercial chapter for the promotion — combined with a genuinely excellent fight at the top of the card that would have headlined any event in any era.

Gaethje vs. Pimblett joined the short list of five-round fights that delivered on every ounce of their hype.

18 Final Thoughts: UFC 324 Set the Bar for 2026

UFC 324 did everything a launch event is supposed to do. It introduced a new broadcast home to millions of fans, delivered one of the year’s best fights right out of the gate, produced meaningful title picture movement across multiple divisions, and gave Dana White and Paramount+ every reason to feel confident about what’s next.

Gaethje is back in championship gold. Pimblett proved he belongs in the conversation even in defeat. The UFC’s Paramount+ era is officially open for business — and if UFC 324 is any indication, it’s going to be a wild ride.