The first UFC event of the year, UFC 324, promises an exciting lineup, headlined by the interim lightweight title fight between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett. This event marks the UFC’s debut broadcast on CBS and Paramount+, scheduled for Saturday at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Pimblett, riding a nine-fight winning streak with a 23-3 record, aims for his first UFC title and is favored at -230. Gaethje, a former interim lightweight champ with a 26-5 record, has won three of his last four bouts and is the underdog at +170.
The main card starts at 9 PM ET, featuring a bantamweight co-main event where Sean O’Malley faces Song Yadong. Despite recent losses, O’Malley (18-3) is favored at -205, while Yadong (22-8-1) stands at +170. MMA betting expert Daniel Visrani, who has posted impressive UFC picks since debuting at UFC 283, offers detailed predictions and strategies for this card. New bettors can take advantage of promotions like DraftKings providing bonus bets, while FanDuel also offers enticing welcome bonuses.
Gaethje, known for his knockout power with 20 KOs out of 26 wins, brings his wrestling background and high-paced striking to the cage. He seeks his second interim lightweight title after previous setbacks against Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira. Gaethje also holds the prestigious “BMF” belt, claimed via a win over Dustin Poirier.
Pimblett, a 31-year-old Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu specialist from Liverpool, has thrived at lightweight since 2018, recording 10 wins in 11 fights with a balanced record of submissions, knockouts, and decision victories. Though new to title fights in UFC, he’s earned Performance of the Night five times and boasts an undefeated record in Las Vegas.
Among other bouts, Visrani endorses Nikita Krylov (+125) over Modestas Bukauskas (-150) in a light heavyweight matchup. Krylov’s diverse skill set and experience could give him the edge over the unranked Bukauskas.
As UFC shifts from pay-per-view to streaming all events live on Paramount+ at no extra cost, access to UFC content is becoming more streamlined for fans.
Fan Take: UFC 324’s mix of established stars and rising talent makes it a pivotal event, especially with its new streaming home on Paramount+. This card could set the tone for the lightweight division’s future and shows the sport’s ongoing evolution in both competition and how fans engage with fights.
