Tag: UFC 324

UFC 324 Paramount+ debut event viewership revealed

Posted on by Josh Nason

This past Saturday’s UFC 324 main card debut event on Paramount+ brought in nearly five million views, according to Paramount Skydance.

Announced via a press release Monday, the show was seen in 7.18 million households — both of which were cited as “the platform’s largest exclusive live event to date.” The show also had 5.93 million concurrent streams.

Of note, NFL games are also available on Paramount+, but are non-exclusive. The 4.96 million views were their live average per minute audience and were also for the main card which kicked off at 9 pm Eastern. Numbers for the prelims were not announced.

Also in the release, the event “reached more homes than any other live UFC event in nearly a decade across linear, broadcast and streaming,” citing Nielsen and Adobe Analytics. The show streamed in the U.S. and Latin America exclusively.

The UFC will return for its second show as part of a seven year, $7.7 billion domestic contract with this Saturday’s UFC 325, headlined by Alexander Volkanovski defending the UFC featherweight title against Diego Lopes in a rematch.

Daily Update: UFC & WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event fallout, Shinsuke Nakamura

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

*A look at Saturday Night’s Main Event, the interest level, the Royal Rumble and Rumble odds
*Big Bad Bobby Duncum, a look at the career of a worldwide headliner who worked on top with almost every major babyface of the 70s, including big WWF and AWA runs and Japanese major tournaments
*CMLL has a big business week with Bandido, Ricochet, Komander, Gates of Agony and Lee Moriarty.  A look at some of the best matches so far this year and the craziness that ruined could have been the best of all of them.
*A look at prior plans for 2025 PPV shows that changed
*A look at Netflix numbers over the past six months, as well as how every PPV in 2025 did and some surprises in that direction, as well as how Smackdown did internationally as well as NXT, and how shows that went head-to-head with AEW PPVs drew.
*Notes on the TNA ratings for the first show on AMC and what they tell us.
*TNA Genesis coverage
*2025 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards ballot
*More AEW stars to CMLL next week
*AAA TV taping notes
*Thoughts on the current AAA product and how it relates to Lucha Libre and WWE
*Stardom makes claim against Marigold
*Saya Kamitani returns early
*Notes about a mainstream model who became one of the first big stars in Stardom and women’s MVP
*Best tag team match of the year
*New Japan next major show lineup
*Eight promotions combine for a singles tournament
*The potential best actual wrestler in the world signs with RAF
*Feast or Fired thoughts
*More on AEW’s future with the WBD sale to Netflix
*Trey Miguel situation
*Ticket sales for upcoming WWE & AEW shows
*The most detailed look at the TV ratings over the past week
*UFC returns to action with first big show of 2026
*Top exec since the inception of  PFL leaves
*More notes regarding a lawsuit against Vince McMahon and WWE
*WWE headliner talks bowing out
*WWE and AEW injury updates
*Punk movie box office
*Talent coming and going from promotions
*TKO and WWE execs get millions this quarter

This issue covers the following topics:

  • The changes in the WrestleMania plans, the Drew McIntyre title win, Roman Reigns return and the whys.
  • WWE getting Will Hobbs while AEW signs a slew of new talent as well. A look at each case-by-case.
  • Notes on the big weekend coming to Mexico City
  • Kayla Harrison injury and what is the future for the biggest women’s fight in years
  • Win-loss records and total bouts for all top WWE/NXT talent in 2025
  • WWE Iron Man winner from 1984-2025
  • What cutting back on the schedule has taught us about injuries
  • Who gets protected in booking and who doesn’t
  • The problem with the current schedule and development of young talent
  • A star who has been around through various eras talks timing and injuries and best schedule
  • A look at TNA’s debut on AMC, what went right and wrong
  • When did wrestling start being a work. Studying of history shows it’s a lot earlier than you would think
  • Odds for WWE matches upcoming
  • The most detailed look at the ratings of all the pro wrestling shows this past week, as well as comparisons with the past and a look at the level of declines and why
  • What wrestler has already main evented 12 sold out shows in 2026
  • One woman wrestler announces retirement and another retires
  • Kazuchika Okada in Japan
  • Most watched New Japan World matches of 2025
  • Ted DiBiase Jr. on trial
  • Death of Rick Link, from fan clubs to main events
  • Jesse Ventura speaks about the current political environment
  • The greatest wrestler in the world signs with Eric Bischoff’s promotion
  • Tons of major independent shows coming
  • AEW gets TV in new market
  • Ticket sales for upcoming WWE, AEW and TNA events
  • Most viewed YouTube videos from AEW and WWE
  • Tag team returning to AEW
  • Dana White shuts down talk of major match
  • A new lawsuit filed against WWE
  • Notes on the recent WWE tryout
  • Notes on all the WWE arena shows this past week.

This Week’s Back Issue

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Sunday Update

— We did two shows over the weekend. Our Friday show talked about the news of the week, Rumble, Saturday Night’s Main Event, WWE Unreal, a look at how many people outside the U.S. watched the PPV shows in 2025 and the surprises. Last night we talked about the first UFC show on Paramount, WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event and the rest of the weekend news.

— Pretty much everyone stepped up last night with the SNME show in Montreal. Every match and the non-match with Cody Rhodes and Jacob Fatu delivered, particularly AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura. The weather made travel difficult but everyone was there advertised. AEW and many independent shows last night were canceled, which is why AEW taped Collision on Wednesday instead of last night in Arlington, TX.

— Regarding the Shinsuke Nakamura Instagram post regarding AJ Styles and that he was retiring at the Royal Rumble, he later took that down. It was legit in the sense Styles did tell him he was finishing up at the Rumble. It wasn’t a planted story so they can say they fooled the Internet. That doesn’t mean they can’t change it but to do so Gunther would have to lose, and that was not the plan.

— There evidently was a ton of interest in UFC’s debut on Paramount last night. It did 2.5 million searches, the second most searched for topic of the weekend behind Alex Pretti. Saturday Nights’ Main Event was No. 21 with 100,000. UFC had seven of the top 100 searches with Paddy Pimblett leading.

— Regarding scoring from last night, in the Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett bout, there was no doubt Gaethje won. I had it 48-46 (10-8 round two) although scores varied ranging from 49-45 to 48-47. However Gaethje did a second eye poke that should have cost him a point since he’d been warned and followed up with some big punches after. It was an early fight of the year candidate. Not great on the skill side since Gaethje was just firing big punches, with some major misses, but he landed enough of them hard enough to win. Most wouldn’t have stayed standing. Pimblett did show a lot of durability.

— In Sean O’Malley vs. Song Yadong the judges had it 29-28 across the board with O’Malley getting rounds one and three on all scorecards. Media scores were 59 percent for O’Malley so it was a close fight.

— Most had Rose Namajunas over Natalia Silva. All three judges had rounds one and three for Silva. However, media scores were 74 percent for Namajunas. The winner was to get a shot at Valentina Shevchenko for the flyweight title, but I could see that not happening since either looked like they should be getting a title fight coming out of this.

— Lilian Garcia will be the ring announcer on Raw tomorrow night. Alicia Taylor was unable to get into Toronto due to flight cancellations. Garcia was in Montreal for last night’s show so they had her go to Toronto to fill in.

— There was a very notable increase in viewers for NXT last Tuesday. While the overall number was about the same as usual (608,000 viewers and 0.08 in 18-49), it grew from 18,000 to 68,000 in 18-49 from the first half hour to the final half hour, which was the three-way women’s tag match with Sol Ruca & Zaria over Kendall Grey & Wren Sinclair. It also went from 68,000 to 156,000 in 18-49 over the same period. That is an extremely unusual level of growth.

— Last night’s fight with Michael Johnson vs. Alexander Hernandez was pulled from the UFC show. What happened was all of a sudden a ton of money was coming in on Johnson, the underdog. Evidently Hernandez was injured, the word got around from people who knew him and started betting on him to lose. The odds started falling which is the sign of either a fixed fight or people getting inside info and using it to lay a lot of money down in one direction. After the last time this happened and UFC didn’t call the fight, which in hindsight appeared to be fixed, Dana White said that they had gotten called from the gaming integrity service and they decided to pull the fight. There were gambling sites that had already pulled the fight by that time.

— CMLL had a big last two nights. Usually for Friday, and even more for Saturday, it takes a major show to sell out. Friday was just a normal Mistico & Mascara Dorada vs. Ultimo Guerrero & Averno and they drew 16,000 to Arena Mexico. Last night at Arena Coliseo, the sellout was Templario & Atlantis Jr. vs. Volador Jr.

— Juggalo Championship Wrestling announced a 4/17 show in Las Vegas at the Horseshoe Casino for StrangleMania. It will air on Triller on 4/24 at 7 pm with seven matches. The main event is Vampiro’s retirement match against PCO. Yes, he is going to Terry Funk’s record. Plus Rob Van Dam & Willie Mack & 2 Tuff Tony vs. Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson & KENTA, a four-way for the JCW world title with Ken Anderson, Nic Nemeth, Matt Riddle and Kaleb Conley with James Storm as referee. Also appearing are John Layfield, The Rock & Roll Express, Vince Russo, EC3, Ninja Mack, George South, ICP and Mecha Wolf.

— They’ve been in talks with Layfield about becoming a full-time performer on their weekly television show. They are also repackaging EC3 as a full-timer with a new gimmick starting on the 2/27 show in Miami. Former ECW personality Joel Gertner will also become a regular and will manage a tag team. Former WCW announcer Scott Hudson will be coming in in maybe six weeks or so. Jonathan Coachman will also be a TV regular.

— Mayu Iwatani had her 15th anniversary show at the Marigold show yesterday at Korakuen Hall, beating Utami Hayashishita. Iyo Sky and Kairi Sane, who were the big three stars with Iwatani in Stardom for years, sent massive flowers to Iwatani at the show.

— Willow Nightingale has been added to the Pro Wrestling Eve show on 3/8 in London that Will Ospreay is part of putting together.

— 48 years ago today was the Superbowl of Wrestling, with NWA champion Harley Race vs. WWWF champion Superstar Billy Graham at the Orange Bowl in Miami. This clip from the WWE Vault off Championship Wrestling from Florida shows the press conference and highlights of the 60-minute match with the wet ring from a rainstorm. Graham told me about this, as it was one of the bigger matches of his career. It was not a fond memory as he was not a wrestler to go 60 and doing it in the rain made it worse. It was not the financial success expected because in those days everyone bought tickets the day of, and people didn’t want to go to an outdoor stadium in the rain.

— Nik Sobic, the Senior Vice President of Business Development, Partnerships and Video Games with AEW, has been let go. He had been with AEW since the start working in business, live events and on the video game.

— Mercedes Martinez appears for Progress Wrestling on 3/29 in London at the Electric Ballroom.

— The woman on Collision last night who took the selfie with Andrade was Sofia Sivan, who is an independent woman wrestler.

— Ian Douglass has written a new book called Highland Games and Hippodromes: Scottish Identity and Influence at the Dawn of the American Pro Wrestling Industry, about the early era of pro wrestling in the U.S. and Scotland. He focuses on Donald Dinnie (a super athlete at the time), Duncan C. Ross, Duncan McMillan and Dan McLeod, and how they shaped pro wrestling in the U.S. from 1870 to 1905. Drew McIntyre wrote the foreword.

— Roy Wayne Farris (Honky Tonk Man) turned 73 today. Rod Price turned 64. Stephanie Bellars, the former Gorgeous George with Randy Savage in WCW, turned 50. Michelle McCool turned 46. Stu Grayton turned 37. Willow Nightingale turned 32. Jay Briscoe was born 42 years ago today. (thanks to Tony Richards)

— Georgiann Makropolous, who was well known inside wrestling for doing newsletters and was someone many, including myself, considered a close friend, died 16 years ago today at the age of 67. She helped so many wrestlers out with bookings and connections and asked for no money for her work. She was the President of both the Bruno Sammartino Fan Club in the 60s (the biggest in the country) and the Buddy Rogers Fan Club, which tells you something because they hated each other.

— The University of Nebraska set its home college wrestling attendance record last night in their meet against Iowa at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. They drew 7,891 fans, breaking the record of 7,094 set earlier this season against Oklahoma State.

— Kirk White’s Big Time Wrestling sold out more than a week in advance in Newark, CA for the annual January Battle Royal and Roy Shire trophy. The Cow Palace Battle Royal was the biggest show of the year in Northern California during the 70s and led to the creation of the Royal Rumble by Pat Patterson, also held annually in late January. CJ Cleary won the Battle Royal. Other results saw Ricochet b Starboy Charlie in what I was told was a fantastic match, Cleary b Alan Angels, Gates of Agony b Shane Haste & Bad Dude Tito (why is this guy not signed anywhere?), Aaron Solo & Chase Emery b Big Fonz & Marcus Lewis, Los Suavecitos b Hard Boy Summer, VertVixen b Brittniue Brooks. The next show is 3/20. They are also running Las Vegas on 4/17 over WrestleMania week. (thanks to Jim Davis)

WOR: UFC 324 on Paramount Plus, WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event recap

Posted on by Garrett Gonzales

Dave Meltzer and I, Garrett Gonzales, are back with Wrestling Observer Radio post UFC 324.

Paul Fontaine joined us to discuss the first Paramount Plus show and also stayed on to talk about the other shows we discussed.

Here were some of the rest of the topics we covered:

  • The news coming out of SmackDown
  • Saturday Night’s Main Event
  • CMLL’s sellouts
  • AEW Collision

Click here to listen (sub needed) or watch on YouTube (video sub needed)

UFC 324 live results: Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett

Posted on by Ryan Frederick

A new era begins for the UFC this weekend as Paramount+ takes over as the UFC’s media partner for at least the next seven years, and it all kicks off with UFC 324 taking place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The main event sees an interim title in the lightweight division on the line as Justin Gaethje takes on Paddy Pimblett. This fight was put together after current UFC Lightweight Champion Ilia Topuria announced he was taking a break from fighting due to personal issues, though he is expected to return within the next few months, likely to face the winner of this bout.

Gaethje is coming off a win in his last fight, while Pimblett is undefeated during his UFC tenure, and on a nine-fight win streak overall.

In the co-main event, former UFC Bantamweight Champion Sean O’Malley looks to get back into the win column against Song Yadong. Also on the main card is a heavyweight slugfest between Waldo Cortes-Acosta and fan favorite Derrick Lewis; a women’s flyweight fight with title shot implications as Natalia Silva battles Rose Namajunas; and a featherweight bout pitting Arnold Allen against Jean Silva.

PRELIMS | 6 PM ET/3 PM PT

> Welterweights- Adam Fugitt (10-5, 2-3 UFC) vs. Ty Miller (6-0 1 NC, 0-0 UFC)

Miller lands a right hand. Fugitt throws a high kick that Miller blocks. Miller is connecting with right hands as one gets through. Fugitt lands a body kick, and then lands another one. They trade inside the pocket as Fugitt lands a pair of body kicks. Miller lands a solid straight right hand. They trade in close range as Miller connects with a flush right hand. Fugitt with a high kick as Miller connects. Miller lands a big combination. Miller lands a solid right hand. They trade inside the pocket and both are bloody. Miller drops Fugitt with a clean right hand and lands from the top, landing an elbow as Fugitt stands. Miller lands two more big right hands. Miller teeing off and drops Fugitt to a knee with a right hand and continues to land and gets the finish at the buzzer! What a finish from Miller!

Fight Result- Ty Miller def. Adam Fugitt by TKO (punches) at 4:59 of Round 1

> Heavyweights- Josh Hokit (7-0, 1-0 UFC) vs. Denzel Freeman (7-1, 1-0 UFC)

Hokit shoots for a takedown right away and is able to get it. Hokit gets the back and has body control as Freeman is attempting to escape to his feet. Hokit with a knee to the thigh of Freeman. They get to their feet as Hokit maintains body control. They break apart. Hokit lands a series of punches with a knee to the body mixed in. Hokit lands a series of uppercuts and Freeman goes to his knees. Hokit with more punches as he looks for neck control. Hokit lands punches from the back. Hokit lands more punches as he spanks Freeman, but they stand. Hokit lands against the fence and Freeman goes for a takedown, but Hokit rolls through to the feet. Hokit lands some punches and Freeman falls down. Hokit with a knee to the body and some more punches as they stand. Freeman runs away and falls to a knee and Mark Smith steps in and stops the fight. A weird finish, but Hokit picks up the win.

Fight Result- Josh Hokit def. Denzel Freeman by TKO (punches) at 4:59 of Round 1

> Flyweights*- #11 Alex Perez (25-10, 7-6 UFC) vs. #13 Charles Johnson (18-7, 7-5 UFC)

*Perez missed weight by 2.5 pounds

They trade to start off as Perez lands a combination. They trade leg kicks. Perez rushes in with a combination, and Johnson lands a body kick. Perez drops Johnson with a left hand and starts landing from the top. Johnson gets to his feet and Perez continues to connect as Johnson is wobbly on his feet. Perez lands a knee and continues to land. Johnson is circling away to survive. Perez lands some more big punches. Johnson looks for a takedown but Perez sprawls and lands more punches as they stand. Perez lands a combo against the fence. Johnson with a pair of body kicks. Perez lands a left hook and Johnson falls face first to the mat and it is stopped! Big finish from Perez, though he did miss weight.

Fight Result- Alex Perez def. Charles Johnson by TKO (punches) at 3:16 of Round 1

> Light Heavyweights- #13 Nikita Krylov (30-11, 11-9 UFC) vs. Modestas Bukauskas (19-6, 7-4 UFC)

Krylov lands a pair of kicks. Bukauskas connects with a right hand. Bukauskas with a combination and lands a right hand afterwards. Krylov shoots for a takedown and pushes Bukauskas against the fence. Krylov still working for a takedown against the fence but not much is happening. Krylov lands a right hand and a high kick as they separate. Krylov with a pair of low kicks. Bukauskas lands a right hand as Krylov lands a leg kick. They trade as Krylov comes forward. Both land and Krylov briefly hurts Bukauskas with a punch. 10-9 Krylov.

Krylov with a leg kick as Bukauskas lands a combination. They trade in close range, and then Bukauskas lands a right hand. They both land as both throw big shots in close range. They tie up and Krylov pushes it to the fence and lands a knee. They end up separating after not a lot of action. Krylov lands a right hand. Bukauskas with a heavy leg kick. Bukauskas lands a combo but Krylov lands a counter right hand. Krylov lands a body kick. Bukauskas with a right hand. They trade late. 10-9 Krylov, 20-18 Krylov.

Bukauskas with a left hand as Krylov throws some front kicks. Krylov connects with a big left hand. Bukauskas lands a left hand. They trade but both are staying out of the range of one another. They trade punches and Bukauskas lands a leg kick. They trade as they nearly clinch up. Krylov with a leg kick as they exchange left hooks. Krylov lands a jab and Bukauskas lands an overhand right. Bukauskas lands a right hand. Krylov drops Bukauskas late with a right hand and lands from the top to get the finish seconds before the fight ends.

Fight Result- Nikita Krylov def. Modestas Bukauskas by knockout (punch) at 4:57 of Round 3

> Middleweights- Ateba Gautier (9-1, 3-0 UFC) vs. Andrey Pulyaev (10-3, 1-1 UFC)

Gautier drops Pulyaev with the first right hand he lands. He lets Pulyaev up and then lands some big punches. Pulyaev lands a body kick and slips, but then Gautier lands as Pulyaev stands. Pulyaev lands a body kick. Pulyaev lands a left hand but Gautier lands a right hand moments later. Gautier lands a right hand. Pulyaev with a left hand. Pulyaev lands some kicks. Pulyaev with a left hand. Pulyaev with a body kick. Pulyaev with a pair of body kicks. 10-9 Gautier.

Gautier is slowing down as the second starts. Pulyaev lands a left hand and a body kick. Pulyaev with another body kick. Pulyaev lands some more kicks as Gautier is looking like he’s just trying to load up on a right hand. Gautier lands a right hand and Pulyaev backs up and falls briefly, but he gets right up. Pulyaev lands a body kick. Gautier with a big right hand. Gautier drops Pulyaev with a right hand and starts landing punches and knees against the fence. Pulyaev looks to have recovered. The pace has slowed. Pulyaev with a short leg kick. Pulyaev lands a high kick. 10-9 Gautier, 20-18 Gautier.

Pulyaev lands a high kick. Gautier lands a right hand. Pulyaev with a body kick. The pace is very slow as Pulyaev lands a left hand and a leg kick. Pulyaev with a high kick. Gautier with a high kick. Pulyaev with a body kick. Gautier with a left hand. Pulyaev lands a body kick followed by a jab. Pulyaev with another stiff body kick. 10-9 Pulyaev, 29-28 Gautier.

Fight Result- Ateba Gautier def. Andrey Pulyaev by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

> Bantamweights*- #2 Umar Nurmagomedov (19-1, 7-1 UFC) vs. #6 Deiveson Figueiredo (25-5-1, 14-5-1 UFC)

*Figueiredo missed weight by 2.5 pounds

Nurmagomedov lands a leg kick. He lands another. Nurmagomedov with a front kick to the body that backs Figueiredo up. Figueiredo lands a leg kick. Nurmagomedov lands to the body as they clinch up. They separate as Nurmagomedov lands an uppercut. Nurmagomedov with a high kick. Nurmagomedov shoots for a takedown and briefly had it, but Figueredo had neck control and they break apart. Nurmagomedov grabs the body and gets a trip takedown. Nurmagomedov working from the half-guard. Nurmagomedov lands to the body and then to the head. Nurmagomedov with more punches from the top. 10-9 Nurmagomedov.

Nurmagomedov landing kicks and punches to keep Figueiredo at a distance early in the second. Nurmagomedov looks for a takedown, but Figueiredo defends. Nurmagomedov lands a body kick. Figueiredo looks for a takedown, but Nurmagomedov defends. Nurmagomedov with a high kick. They both land right hands in close range, and then Nurmagomedov lands a body kick. Nurmagomedov lands a combo before they clinch up. Figueiredo defends and they both start landing as the round winds down. Figueiredo lands a right hand. Nurmagomedov with a left hand. 10-9 Nurmagomedov, 20-18 Nurmagomedov.

Nurmagomedov lands a body kick. Nurmagomedov is pressing forward and controlling as Figueiredo has thrown no offense in the first 90 seconds of the round. Nurmagomedov gets a takedown and is working from inside the guard of Figueiredo. Nurmagomedov lands some punches and moves to side control, but Figueiredo gets him back inside his full guard. Nurmagomedov transitions and lands from the top. 10-9 Nurmagomedov, 30-27 Nurmagomedov.

Fight Result- Umar Nurmagomedov def. Deiveson Figueiredo by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

MAIN CARD | 9 PM ET/6 PM PT

> Featherweights- #6 Arnold Allen (20-3, 11-2 UFC) vs. #10 Jean Silva (16-3, 5-1 UFC)

Allen lands a pair of kicks. Silva lands to the body. Allen lands a left hand. He lands another left hand. Silva with a right hand to the body as Allen lands a high kick, and they then exchange kicks. Allen with a straight left hand to the body. Silva lands a combination. Allen with a body kick. Silva lands a right hand as Allen is working the jab and lands a left hand. Silva lands a right hook to the body followed by a left hand. Allen lands a left hand but Silva ends the round with a big flurry. 10-9 Silva.

Silva lands a high kick. Silva with an inside leg kick. Silva with another high kick. Silva lands a flurry and gets a brief takedown, but they get up and Allen lands several punches. Silva lands an elbow before they break to the center. Allen lands a left hand, and Silva lands an uppercut. Silva with two right hands, one to the body and one to the head. Allen with a high kick followed by a flying knee. Silva lands a solid combination. They tie up and Allen lands a big knee. Silva lands a right hand as Allen lands a spinning attack. Silva with a series of leg kicks. Allen lands a right hand after blocking a head kick. Silva with a spinning elbow. Allen lands a head kick. 10-9 Allen, 19-19.

They trade short leg kicks. Silva with a high kick. Silva with a body kick, then mixes a combo to the body and head. Silva with a series of right hands. Allen grabs the back as they move to the fence. Allen controls, but Silva is able to keep it on the feet and force a separation. Silva looked for a single leg as he initiates a clinch and lands a pair of elbows. Silva moves to the back and gets a brief takedown. Allen lands a body kick on the feet. Silva with a combo and Allen lands a knee to the body. Allen with a high kick. Silva lands a high kick. Silva lands a head kick then a right hand and then another head kick. 10-9 Silva, 29-28 Silva.

Fight Result- Jean Silva def. Arnold Allen by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

> Women’s Flyweights- #2 Natalia Silva (19-5-1, 7-0 UFC) vs. #6 Rose Namajunas (14-7, 12-6 UFC)

Namajunas lands a leg kick. She lands another. Silva hasn’t landed anything in the first 90 seconds. They trade jabs. Namajunas lands a leg kick as Silva lands a combo. Silva with a right hand. Namajunas lands a leg kick. Namajunas lands a right hand as Silva throws a high kick. Namajunas with a leg kick. Namajunas lands a combination as Silva lands a leg kick. Namajunas with a high kick and lands a spinning back fist. They trade leg kicks. 10-9 Namajunas.

Namajunas lands a leg kick. Namajunas with a jab as Silva throws but misses. Silva lands a leg kick as Namajunas lands a right hand. Silva lands a high body kick. They trade inside the pocket. Namajunas lands a right hand. Silva lands a right hand. They clinch and Silva looks for a trip, but Namajunas stays on her feet as they go to the fence. They briefly scramble to the mat, and Namajunas has control as they stand and are at the fence. Namajunas is able to score a takedown and gets inside the guard of Silva. Namajunas controlling from the top as Silva tries to find an opening. 10-9 Namajunas, 20-18 Namajunas.

Namajunas lands a leg kick as Silva lands a combination. Silva starting to land more punches. Silva with an inside leg kick. Namajunas lands a left hook after faking a takedown attempt. Silva lands a combination. Silva with some leg kicks and a spin kick to the body. Namajunas lands a front kick. Silva lands a high kick. They trade kicks. Silva with a high side kick. They trade inside the pocket. Silva with a side kick to the leg. Silva scores a takedown and is in the half-guard of Namajunas. They get up and both land late in the round. 10-9 Silva, 29-28 Namajunas.

Fight Result- Natalia Silva def. Rose Namajunas by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

> Heavyweights- #5 Waldo Cortes-Acosta (16-2, 9-2 UFC) vs. #8 Derrick Lewis (29-12 1 NC, 20-10 UFC)

Lewis lands a body kick. Cortes-Acosta lands a leg kick. Lewis lands a high kick. Lewis lands another high kick as Cortes-Acosta is just moving forward but doing nothing on offense. Cortes-Acosta works the jab. Cortes-Acosta lands a leg kick. Cortes-Acosta lands a right hand. Cortes-Acosta catches a Lewis leg kick and scores a takedown, but lets Lewis back to his feet. 10-9 Cortes-Acosta.

Cortes-Acosta lands a right hand as Lewis was coming forward. Cortes-Acosta works the jab. Lewis with a right hand. Cortes-Acosta lands a left hook. Lewis with a left hook. Lewis lands a right hand. Cortes-Acosta lands a shot and Lewis goes down. Cortes-Acosta starts landing big punches and elbows from the top and it is stopped! Big finish from Cortes-Acosta.

Fight Result- Waldo Cortes-Acosta def. Derrick Lewis by TKO (punches) at 3:14 of Round 2

> Bantamweights- #3 Sean O’Malley (18-3 1 NC, 10-3 1 NC UFC) vs. #5 Song Yadong (22-8-1 1 NC, 11-3-1 UFC)

Yadong lands a leg kick right away. O’Malley with a body kick and they trade leg kicks. They trade kicks as O’Malley lands a left hand. O’Malley with another left hand. Yadong lands a quick combo and O’Malley counters with a spin kick to the body. O’Malley works the jab. Yadong with a lunging left hand that partially lands. O’Malley with a front kick and Yadong lands a leg kick. They continue to trade kicks often. Yadong with a heavy leg kick before he scores a takedown. O’Malley attacks for a guillotine choke but Yadong is able to get his head free. Yadong lands to the body from the top to end the round. 10-9 O’Malley.

Yadong lands a leg kick. O’Malley with a body kick as Yadong lands a right hand. O’Malley lands a body kick. Yadong with a leg kick. Yadong looks for a takedown as he grabs a leg and they scramble down for a moment before standing. Yadong has back control as O’Malley lands back elbows. Yadong gets it down as O’Malley attacks for a guillotine choke, but Yadong escapes and is inside the guard of O’Malley. They scramble to their feet. 10-9 Yadong, 19-19.

O’Malley lands to the body as Yadong lands a calf kick. Yadong lands another leg kick as O’Malley lands a pair of left hands. Yadong lands a combo. O’Malley with a front kick. They trade jabs. Yadong shoots for a takedown but O’Malley easily defends it. O’Malley works the jab. O’Malley lands a body kick, and both land right hands, with O’Malley landing with more power. O’Malley lands a kick as Yadong is throwing punches. Yadong shoots for a takedown, but O’Malley defends and lands a right hand followed by a nice knee. Yadong is bleeding. O’Malley with a left hand and follows with a right hand. O’Malley lands a right hand and a high kick. Close fight. 10-9 O’Malley, 29-28 O’Malley.

Fight Result- Sean O’Malley def. Song Yadong by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

> Interim UFC Lightweight Championship- #4 Justin Gaethje (26-5, 9-5 UFC) vs. #5 Paddy Pimblett (23-3, 7-0 UFC)

Pimblett lands a right hand. He lands a body kick. Pimblett with a leg kick. He lands another. He lands a left hand but Gaethje lands a counter right hand. Pimblett with a solid right hand followed by a leg kick. Pimblett lands a combo with a knee and lands some more, but Gaethje counters back with some right hands. Gaethje lands a right hand and Pimblett goes down. Gaethje starts landing as he grabs the neck. He backs off and lets Pimblett stand. Pimblett lands an uppercut. Pimblett lands a leg kick. He lands a body kick followed by a left hand. Pimblett lands a small flurry. Gaethje grabs the body against the fence. They break apart. Pimblett lands a calf kick. He lands an uppercut. Pimblett lands another uppercut and Gaethje lands a right hand. Time out is called for an eye poke by Gaethje. They get back going and Pimblett lands some leg kicks. They start teeing off against the fence. Pimblett lands an elbow as they clinch, and also some knees as they break apart. 10-9 Gaethje.

Pimblett lands a left hook and a leg kick. Gaethje lands against the fence and grabs the neck as they go to the mat. Pimblett escapes and they stand. Gaethje lands a stiff jab. Pimblett lands a body kick and stumbles. Gaethje lands a knee as they clinch and both are swinging. Pimblett with an uppercut, but Gaethje fires back with a big combination. They tie up and Pimblett with a knee to the body. They trade knees but separate. Pimblett with some more knees to the body. Gaethje lands a right hand and grabs the front headlock, dragging Pimblett to the mat. They start to scramble and Gaethje hurts Pimblett with a knee, but they both stand. Gaethje lands a right hand and Pimblett goes to his butt. Gaethje lands from the top, mixing elbows and punches. Gaethje jumps back on top and lands big shots to end the round. 10-9 Gaethje, 20-18 Gaethje.

Pimblett works the jab. He lands another followed by a leg kick and a right hand. Gaethje starts to land but Pimblett continues to work the jab and is doing better on offense here. Pimblett lands a body kick then a high kick. Gaethje lands a leg kick. Gaethje with an overhand right. Pimblett lands a body kick. They trade leg kicks. They both land a left hand at the same time. Pimblett comes forward but eats a right hand from Gaethje. Pimblett lands an uppercut and Gaethje lands a leg kick. Time out is called after a groin strike by Pimblett. They get back going and Pimblett is landing more as Gaethje lands a solid jab. Pimblett with some leg kicks. Gaethje lands a flush right hand. They trade jabs. 10-9 Pimblett, 29-28 Gaethje.

They trade big shots and Gaethje hurts Pimblett with a right hand. Gaethje lands a left hook as Pimblett shoots for a takedown. Gaethje has the neck but Pimblett escapes and they stand. Gaethje pushes Pimblett against the fence but they separate. Gaethje lands a big right hand. Gaethje hurts Pimblett with some big punches but Pimblett recovers. Gaethje lands a leg kick. They tie up and Gaethje with some knees and an elbow. Gaethje with an uppercut. They break apart and trade jabs. Pimblett lands a nice sequence but eats a jab from Gaethje. Pimblett lands a right hand. Pimblett with a pair of high kicks. Pimblett lands a combo as they scramble down late and Gaethje lands. 10-9 Gaethje, 39-37 Gaethje.

They trade and Pimblett hurts Gaethje with some shots. Gaethje recovers and lands a huge right hand. They tie up against the fence and Gaethje lands to the body and a right hand as they break. Gaethje with a leg kick. Gaethje lands a jab. Pimblett with an uppercut. Pimblett lands a combo. Pimblett with an uppercut in the clinch. Pimblett shoots for a takedown, but Gaethje defends it. Pimblett pushes it to the fence and lands some knees. They separate and Gaethje lands a big right hand. Pimblett lands a combination. They trade right hands. Pimblett lands a big flurry and Gaethje forces a clinch. Pimblett lands to the body and lands a small flurry on a brief break. Gaethje with a right hand in the clinch. They break apart. They both swing late. 10-9 Pimblett, 48-47 Gaethje.

Fight Result- Justin Gaethje def. Paddy Pimblett by unanimous decision (48-47, 49-46, 49-46) to win the Interim UFC Lightweight Championship

Justin Gaethje vs Paddy Pimblett Fight Preview and Breakdown UFC 324

Posted on by Jake Skudder

The main event of UFC 324 will see the interim lightweight championship on the line when Justin Gaethje meets Paddy Pimblett in what will likely be a classic style clash: high volume violence versus opportunistic grappling. The matchup is less about “who is better” and more about who can force the fight into their preferred range for the longest stretches.

Tale of the tape and UFC Stats snapshot

CategoryJustin GaethjePaddy Pimblett
Record26-5-023-3-0
Height5’11”5’10”
Reach70″73″
StanceOrthodoxOrthodox
SLpM (sig strikes landed per min)6.595.19
Striking accuracy58%53%
SApM (sig strikes absorbed per min)7.183.14
Striking defense51%42%
TD avg (per 15 min)0.100.96
TD accuracy14%28%
TD defense68%50%
Sub avg (per 15 min)0.01.7

Gaethje pressure striking vs Pimblett distance management

Gaethje’s game is built around forward pressure, leg kicks, and forcing exchanges at a pace most lightweights cannot match for too long. His output at 155 is elite (6.59 SLpM), but the tradeoff here is risk, as he absorbs a massive 7.18 SApM, which tells you his fights are often decided by who handles chaos better.

Pimblett is not a low volume fighter by any means (5.19 SLpM), yet his stats read very differently to his opponent at 234: far fewer strikes absorbed (3.14 SApM) and a lower striking defense rate (42%). That combination often shows a fighter who relies on range, timing, and moments rather than extended pocket trades, which could REALLY help him against a pressure engine like Gaethje.

Pimblett grappling and submission threats vs Gaethje’s get ups

The most important stylistic difference is what happens after the clinch. Pimblett attempts far more takedowns (0.96 per 15) and hunts submissions at a high rate (1.7 per 15).

Gaethje’s wrestling credentials are real, but his style in the octagon has been striker-first throughout his UFC career. His takedown average is tiny (0.10 per 15) and his submission average sits at 0.0, meaning his path is typically damage, not control. The key number for Gaethje is his 68% takedown defense, because if he keeps his hips safe and scrambles quickly, he can drag Pimblett back into the kind of fight that favors his cardio: under fire and combination kicking.

Key stylistic differences that decide the interim lightweight title

Fight phaseGaethje’s best routePimblett’s best route
Open spaceLeg kicks, pressure, long combos to force brawlsCircling, jabbing, countering, level changes off exits
ClinchDirty boxing to break, then re-enter with volumeBody lock entries, trips, and riding time to slow pace
GroundImmediate stand ups, deny back takesBack control, front chokes, and scramble submissions
PaceMake it a high tempo fight earlyCreate “breathers” with grappling and control

If Gaethje consistently wins the first layer, keeps solid foot position and constant pressure, then he can turn Pimblett’s longer reach into a non factor and make every exchange costly for the Liverpool native.

If Pimblett can turn even a few of those exchanges into clinches and mat time, he can sap Gaethje’s rhythm and force defensive grappling sequences…where one mistake can end the fight.

UFC 324 Odds Gaethje vs Pimblett

Posted on by Jake Skudder

UFC 324 is headlined by Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett for the interim lightweight title, and the main card odds paint a clear picture of where the betting market is leaning heading into fight night. Below, you will find the latest UFC 324 main card moneylines (via DraftKings, and always subject to change), plus a quick read on what those numbers imply for each matchup.

UFC 324 main card odds (DraftKings)

Here are the UFC 324 main fight card odds listed by CBS Sports:

  • Justin Gaethje (+200) vs. Paddy Pimblett (-245)
  • Sean O’Malley (-210) vs. Song Yadong (+180)
  • Waldo Cortes-Acosta (-345) vs. Derrick Lewis (+275)
  • Natalia Silva (-310) vs. Rose Namajunas (+250)
  • Arnold Allen (+200) vs. Jean Silva (-245)

Justin Gaethje vs Paddy Pimblett odds

Pimblett opens the main event as a solid favorite at -245, with Gaethje coming back at +200. In implied probability terms, -245 suggests roughly a 71% win chance for Pimblett, while +200 implies about 33% for Gaethje (before sportsbook margin).

What that tells you: bettors are pricing Pimblett as the more likely winner, but Gaethje’s underdog tag is not a throwaway. Gaethje has the ability to end fights out of nowhere with his striking, and he is more than capable of doing that here with the Englishman.

Sean O’Malley vs Song Yadong odds

O’Malley is favored at -210, with Song at +180. That roughly translates to about a 68% implied chance for O’Malley versus about 36% for Song.

Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs Derrick Lewis odds

Cortes-Acosta is a strong favorite at -345, while Lewis sits at +275. That is roughly 78% implied for Cortes-Acosta and 27% for Lewis.

In plain English: the market is backing Cortes-Acosta’s consistency, while still respecting Lewis’ reputation as a live underdog who can flip a fight with one big moment.

Natalia Silva vs Rose Namajunas odds

Silva is listed at -310, with Namajunas at +250, implying roughly 76% for Silva and 29% for Namajunas.

Arnold Allen vs Jean Silva odds

Jean Silva is favored at -245, while Allen is +200. Implied probability is similar to the main event: about 71% Silva, about 33% Allen.

Odds are from DraftKings via CBS Sports and can move right up until the opening bell.

WOR: Road to WrestleMania 42, AEW PPVs, Powerhouse Hobbs in WWE

Posted on by Garrett Gonzales

Dave Meltzer and I are back with the Friday edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, talking about the big news from today’s issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

Here were some of the things we discussed:

  • SNME & Royal Rumble starting the road to WrestleMania
  • Dave’s story on the passing of Bobby Duncum Sr.
  • AEW PPVs and their value to Netflix or TNT Sports
  • UFC 324
  • Powerhouse Hobbs’ WWE name

Click here to listen (sub needed) or watch on YouTube

UFC 324 Predictions Gaethje vs Pimblett Main Card

Posted on by Jake Skudder

UFC 324 takes place Saturday, January 24, 2026 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, with Justin Gaethje vs Paddy Pimblett headlining for the interim UFC lightweight title. The main card is built around high-pace striking, a few volatile underdogs, and at least one line that feels wider than the matchup.

Main event prediction: Justin Gaethje vs Paddy Pimblett

The books are pricing Pimblett as the favorite (around -230), with Gaethje the underdog (around +176). That is a bold number considering Gaethje’s track record against elite lightweights and the kind of damage he can land early with leg kicks and pressure.

Pimblett’s clearest path is forcing messy grappling and scrambling, then finding a submission or stealing rounds with control. The problem is that Gaethje is hard to hold down, and if this stays striking-heavy for long stretches, Gaethje’s power and pace can swing the fight fast.

Pick: Justin Gaethje by TKO (Rounds 3 to 4).

Co-main prediction: Sean O’Malley vs Song Yadong

O’Malley vs Song has been promoted to the co-main event after the UFC 324 main card reshuffle. Odds-wise, O’Malley is favored at -215 and Song sits around +164.

Song is dangerous in the pocket and can change a fight with one clean shot, but over three rounds O’Malley’s range management and shot selection usually win him the minutes, especially if he keeps the fight at kicking distance.

Pick: Sean O’Malley by decision.

Main card Likely Outcomes: Lewis, Namajunas, Allen

  • Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs Derrick Lewis: Lewis has been priced as a sizable underdog in spots (around +240 reported), which tells you the market expects Cortes-Acosta to win rounds with cleaner volume and fewer risks. Lewis is always live for a knockout, but the safer pick is the younger, steadier fighter.

Pick: Cortes-Acosta by decision.

  • Natália Silva vs Rose Namajunas: Silva has been listed as a clear favorite (roughly -400 range depending on the book movement). Namajunas’ experience at the top level is a big leveller, but Silva’s speed and consistency at flyweight make her the pick here.

Pick: Natália Silva by decision

  • Arnold Allen vs Jean Silva: The line has Jean Silva around -230 with Allen about +180. Allen can win if he drags this into later rounds, but Silva’s finishing threat and momentum get the nod.

Pick: Jean Silva by TKO (Rounds 1 to 2)

Full UFC 324 predictions

FightPick
Gaethje vs PimblettGaethje TKO
O’Malley vs SongO’Malley Decision
Cortes-Acosta vs LewisCortes-Acosta Decision
Silva vs NamajunasNatália Silva Decision
Allen vs Jean SilvaJean Silva TKO
Umar Nurmagomedov vs Deiveson FigueiredoNurmagomedov Decision
Nikita Krylov vs Modestas BukauskasBukauskas Decision

UFC 324 Main Card Start Times: US, UK, Australia and more

Posted on by Jake Skudder

UFC 324 takes over T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, with Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett headlining the night. If you are planning your watch party, the key is locking in the U.S. start times first, then converting to your local time zone. The UFC has confirmed a 9 p.m. ET main card start, with prelims earlier in the evening.

Below is a quick, scannable breakdown of UFC 324 start times for the early prelims, prelims, and main card, plus the most important conversions for the UK, Australia, and beyond.

UFC 324 start times at a glance (all segments)

SegmentUS EasternUS PacificUK (GMT)Australia (AEDT, Sydney)
Early Prelims5:00 p.m. Sat2:00 p.m. Sat10:00 p.m. Sat9:00 a.m. Sun
Prelims7:00 p.m. Sat4:00 p.m. Sat12:00 a.m. Sun11:00 a.m. Sun
Main Card9:00 p.m. Sat6:00 p.m. Sat2:00 a.m. Sun1:00 p.m. Sun

UFC 324 main card start time in the United States (ET, CT, MT, PT)

The UFC 324 main card begins at 9 p.m. ET on Saturday, Jan. 24. That’s 8 p.m. CT, 7 p.m. MT, and 6 p.m. PT, which is ideal if you are watching on the West Coast and want the main card to end at a reasonable hour.

UFC 324 main card start time in the UK (GMT)

In the UK, the UFC 324 main card starts at 2 a.m. GMT on Sunday, Jan. 25. The prelims begin at 12 a.m. (midnight), which is often the sweet spot if you want to catch a few meaningful fights before the PPV portion begins.

UFC 324 main card start time in Australia (AEDT, AEST, AWST)

For Australia, timing depends on your region. The main card lands on Sunday afternoon: 1 p.m. AEDT (Sydney, Melbourne), 12 p.m. AEST (Brisbane), and 10 a.m. AWST (Perth). That makes UFC 324 one of the more convenient numbered events for Australian fans, especially compared to the usual early morning starts.

City / regionTime zoneLocal main card start
UTCUTCSun, Jan 25, 2:00 AM
Los Angeles (PT)PSTSat, Jan 24, 6:00 PM
Denver (MT)MSTSat, Jan 24, 7:00 PM
Chicago (CT)CSTSat, Jan 24, 8:00 PM
New York (ET)ESTSat, Jan 24, 9:00 PM
AnchorageAKSTSat, Jan 24, 5:00 PM
HonoluluHSTSat, Jan 24, 4:00 PM
Mexico CityCSTSat, Jan 24, 8:00 PM
TorontoESTSat, Jan 24, 9:00 PM
Bogotá-05Sat, Jan 24, 9:00 PM
Lima-05Sat, Jan 24, 9:00 PM
Caracas-04Sat, Jan 24, 10:00 PM
São Paulo-03Sat, Jan 24, 11:00 PM
Buenos Aires-03Sat, Jan 24, 11:00 PM
Santiago-03Sat, Jan 24, 11:00 PM
LondonGMTSun, Jan 25, 2:00 AM
DublinGMTSun, Jan 25, 2:00 AM
LisbonWETSun, Jan 25, 2:00 AM
ParisCETSun, Jan 25, 3:00 AM
BerlinCETSun, Jan 25, 3:00 AM
RomeCETSun, Jan 25, 3:00 AM
MadridCETSun, Jan 25, 3:00 AM
StockholmCETSun, Jan 25, 3:00 AM
AthensEETSun, Jan 25, 4:00 AM
HelsinkiEETSun, Jan 25, 4:00 AM
CairoEETSun, Jan 25, 4:00 AM
Istanbul+03Sun, Jan 25, 5:00 AM
MoscowMSKSun, Jan 25, 5:00 AM
Riyadh+03Sun, Jan 25, 5:00 AM
NairobiEATSun, Jan 25, 5:00 AM
JohannesburgSASTSun, Jan 25, 4:00 AM
LagosWATSun, Jan 25, 3:00 AM
Casablanca+01Sun, Jan 25, 3:00 AM
Dubai+04Sun, Jan 25, 6:00 AM
Tehran+0330Sun, Jan 25, 5:30 AM
KarachiPKTSun, Jan 25, 7:00 AM
DelhiISTSun, Jan 25, 7:30 AM
Dhaka+06Sun, Jan 25, 8:00 AM
Bangkok+07Sun, Jan 25, 9:00 AM
Singapore+08Sun, Jan 25, 10:00 AM
Hong KongHKTSun, Jan 25, 10:00 AM
ShanghaiCSTSun, Jan 25, 10:00 AM
TaipeiCSTSun, Jan 25, 10:00 AM
SeoulKSTSun, Jan 25, 11:00 AM
TokyoJSTSun, Jan 25, 11:00 AM
PerthAWSTSun, Jan 25, 10:00 AM
AdelaideACDTSun, Jan 25, 12:30 PM
SydneyAEDTSun, Jan 25, 1:00 PM
AucklandNZDTSun, Jan 25, 3:00 PM
Fiji (Suva)+12Sun, Jan 25, 2:00 PM

UFC 324 Prelims Start Times: US, UK, Australia and more.

Posted on by Jake Skudder

UFC 324: Gaethje vs. Pimblett goes down on Saturday, January 24, 2026, live from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. If you are planning your night around the undercard action, the key detail is this: the UFC 324 prelims start at 7 p.m. ET (that is 4 p.m. PT) on Saturday.

Below is a quick, easy conversion guide so you can lock in the correct time wherever you are.

UFC 324 prelims start time in the US: ET, CT, MT, PT

The prelims are scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Saturday, Jan. 24.

LocationTime (Prelims)Day
New York (ET)7:00 p.m.Sat, Jan 24
Chicago (CT)6:00 p.m.Sat, Jan 24
Denver (MT)5:00 p.m.Sat, Jan 24
Los Angeles (PT)4:00 p.m.Sat, Jan 24

The UFC’s official announcement lists the prelims at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT, with the main card later in the evening.

UFC 324 prelims start time in the UK and Ireland

For viewers in the UK and Ireland, 7:00 p.m. ET converts to 12:00 a.m. (midnight) UK time.

LocationTime (Prelims)Day
London (UK, GMT)12:00 a.m.Sun, Jan 25
Dublin (Ireland, GMT)12:00 a.m.Sun, Jan 25

So, if you are watching from the UK, the UFC 324 prelims begin early Sunday morning.

UFC 324 prelims start time in Australia and New Zealand

Australia is where it gets nice and convenient, because midnight in the UK becomes late morning.

LocationTime (Prelims)Day
Sydney (AEDT)11:00 a.m.Sun, Jan 25
Brisbane (AEST)10:00 a.m.Sun, Jan 25
Perth (AWST)8:00 a.m.Sun, Jan 25
Auckland (NZDT)1:00 p.m.Sun, Jan 25

Double check your local daylight saving setting, but for most of Australia in late January, you are looking at a Sunday morning start for the prelims.

UFC 324 prelims start time in Europe, Asia, and more

A few more popular conversions for international fans:

LocationTime (Prelims)Day
Paris (CET)1:00 a.m.Sun, Jan 25
Dubai (GST)4:00 a.m.Sun, Jan 25
Tokyo (JST)9:00 a.m.Sun, Jan 25

UFC 324 prelims start time FAQ

Are the UFC 324 prelims definitely at 7 p.m. ET?
Yes. The UFC’s event announcement lists the prelims beginning at 7 p.m. ET, and major listings reflect the same schedule.

What day is it in the UK when the prelims start?
Because the UK is five hours ahead of Eastern Time in January, the prelims land at 12:00 a.m. (midnight) on Sunday, Jan. 25.

Where can I find the official UFC 324 schedule?
The UFC’s event page and official news release are the safest places to confirm start times, especially if anything shifts during fight week.

UFC 324 Fight Card Gaethje vs Pimblett

Posted on by Jake Skudder

UFC 324: Gaethje vs Pimblett is set for Saturday, January 24, 2026 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. With a stacked lineup across nearly every major men’s division plus a featured women’s flyweight showcase, this UFC 324 fight card has a little bit of everything: title stakes at lightweight, a high-profile bantamweight co-main, and several matchups that could reshape the rankings in 2026.

UFC 324 main card fights

The UFC 324 main card is headlined by Justin Gaethje vs Paddy Pimblett at lightweight, listed for the UFC interim lightweight championship. The co-main event spot goes to Sean O’Malley vs Song Yadong at bantamweight, a matchup with major contender implications.

Here is the current UFC 324 main card as it stands:

BoutDivision
Justin Gaethje vs Paddy PimblettLightweight
Sean O’Malley vs Song YadongBantamweight
Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs Derrick LewisHeavyweight
Natália Silva vs Rose NamajunasFlyweight
Arnold Allen vs Jean SilvaFeatherweight

UFC 324 prelims and early prelims

The undercard is deep, with ranked-level talent and several fights that could produce future contenders. A key one to watch is Umar Nurmagomedov vs Deiveson Figueiredo at bantamweight, which pairs a rising force with a proven former champion-caliber name.

Remaining UFC 324 bouts:

  • Nikita Krylov vs Modestas Bukauskas (Light Heavyweight)
  • Umar Nurmagomedov vs Deiveson Figueiredo (Bantamweight)
  • Ateba Gautier vs Andrey Pulyaev (Middleweight)
  • Alex Perez vs Charles Johnson (Flyweight)
  • Josh Hokit vs Denzel Freeman (Heavyweight)
  • Michael Johnson vs Alexander Hernandez (Lightweight)
  • Ricky Turcios vs Cameron Smotherman (Bantamweight)
  • Ty Miller vs Adam Fugitt (Welterweight)

What makes this UFC 324 fight card worth tracking

At the top, Gaethje vs Pimblett is a style clash that will set the tone for the lightweight picture going forward, especially with interim title talk attached to the main event. Meanwhile, O’Malley vs Song is the kind of bantamweight pairing that can fast-track the winner back into title conversations. Add in a heavyweight banger featuring Derrick Lewis, plus Namajunas vs Silva getting a spotlight slot, and UFC 324 has clear “big moment” potential from top to bottom.