The interim UFC lightweight championship bout is set to headline UFC 324, titled “Gaethje vs. Pimblett,” taking place on Saturday at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena. This event marks UFC’s first appearance on CBS and Paramount+, with early prelims starting at 5 p.m. ET and the main card at approximately 9 p.m. ET. Fourth-ranked Justin Gaethje will duel fifth-ranked Paddy Pimblett for the interim belt. Gaethje secured a unanimous decision over Rafael Fiziev at UFC 313 last March, while Pimblett scored a third-round TKO against Michael Chandler at UFC 314 in April. DraftKings Sportsbook lists Pimblett as the -230 favorite and Gaethje at +125. The co-main event will feature bantamweight top contenders Sean O’Malley (-205) versus Song Yadong (+170). MMA expert Kyle Marley offers in-depth predictions and betting advice for UFC 324 on SportsLine.
New DraftKings Sportsbook customers can receive a $300 bonus bet after wagering just $5 on UFC 324. Over the past three years, a $100 wager following Marley’s picks has yielded nearly $10,000 in profit, and since May 2018, his returns have exceeded $21,000. Marley, an experienced MMA analyst, provided consistent winners during the UFC’s pandemic suspension, including five consecutive underdog wins in 2020 and a 9-2 record on his last UFC card. His detailed analysis of the Gaethje vs. Pimblett fight is available on SportsLine.
UFC fans can now stream every numbered event and Fight Night live via Paramount+ with no additional fee beyond their subscription. This includes documentaries, full replays, and archived fights, signaling the end of traditional pay-per-view for UFC events.
Gaethje, 37, a former NCAA Division I All-American wrestler, has fought professionally since 2011 and joined the UFC in 2017 after starting his career 18-0. He holds a career record of 26-5, with 20 knockouts, one submission, and five decisions. Notable accolades include winning the President’s Choice Fight of the Year in 2021 and 2024 and multiple nominations. As a World Series of Fighting lightweight champion, he defended his title five times.
Pimblett, 31 and nicknamed “The Buddy,” began his career in 2012 as a bantamweight and has also competed at catchweight, featherweight, and lightweight. After a 16-3 record before joining UFC in 2021, he has since gone undefeated at 7-0, earning five Performance of the Night bonuses. He scored a KO over Luigi Vendramini and was nominated for the 2021 UFC Fans’ Choice Debut of the Year. Pimblett won the 2022 Breakout Fighter of the Year at the World MMA Awards and the 2024 Fan’s Choice Submission of the Year.
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Marley’s UFC 324 prediction includes a call for Ty Miller, favored at -425, to defeat Adam Fugitt (+330) by knockout in their welterweight bout on the preliminary card.
For fight picks and insight, Marley highlights underdogs likely to keep bouts close and reveals his favorite pick exclusively on SportsLine. Betting odds for the main card include Gaethje (+120) vs. Pimblett (-230), O’Malley (-205) vs. Song (+170), Waldo Cortez-Acosta (-325) vs. Derrick Lewis (+260), Natalie Silva (-410) vs. Rose Namajunas (+320), and Arnold Allen (+225) vs. Jean Silva (-278).
Fan Take: This interim lightweight title fight not only showcases two exciting fighters at the peak of their careers but also symbolizes UFC’s evolution in broadcasting with its CBS and Paramount+ debut. The outcome could reshape the lightweight division’s future, impacting matchmaking and fan engagement in the sport.
