The UFC and Paramount+ are launching a new chapter with UFC 324, premiering on January 24th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The headline bout features Justin Gaethje squaring off against Paddy Pimblett for the interim lightweight championship. Additionally, women’s bantamweight titleholder Kayla Harrison will make her comeback against Amanda Nunes, the legendary female GOAT, marking Nunes’ first fight since 2023 after retiring.
UFC President Dana White unveiled the lineup during the Thanksgiving Chiefs-Cowboys halftime show. The winner of the Gaethje vs. Pimblett clash is anticipated to face the reigning lightweight champ, Ilya Topuria, for a unification bout later in the year.
Gaethje remains one of the most thrilling fighters, known for earning post-fight bonuses 14 times in the UFC. Pimblett is an undefeated sensation in the UFC at 7-0, famous for his electrifying fights and charismatic promos. The co-main event sees UFC icon Amanda Nunes return from a two-and-a-half-year break to chase another title shot, adding to her already impressive victories over stars like Ronda Rousey and Valentina Shevchenko. Kayla Harrison, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, remains undefeated in her UFC tenure, holding a 3-0 record.
Dana White expressed his excitement over the partnership with Paramount+, highlighting that the event features six current and former champions, including Nunes’ highly anticipated return. He emphasized that the card is stacked with must-watch fights and praised the deal for eliminating pay-per-views, making 2026 potentially the UFC’s best year ever.
The event’s main card will commence at 9 PM ET, with preliminaries starting at 7 PM and early qualifiers at 5 PM, all accessible with a Paramount+ subscription. The fight card includes Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett (interim lightweight title), Kayla Harrison (c) vs. Amanda Nunes (women’s bantamweight title), Sean O’Malley vs. Song Yadong (bantamweight), Waldo Cortez Acosta vs. Derrick Lewis (heavyweight), and Arnold Allen vs. Jean Silva (featherweight).
Furthermore, UFC 325 is set for January 31st in Sydney, Australia, where Alex Volkanovski will defend his featherweight crown against Diego Lopez, whom he defeated last April to claim the vacant title.
Fan Take: This UFC 324 card is a blockbuster for fight enthusiasts, blending the return of legendary star Amanda Nunes with high-stakes title bouts. It signals a new era for the sport, thanks to the Paramount+ deal, promising greater accessibility and electric matchups that could shape UFC’s future landscape.
