UFC and Paramount+ are wasting no time making history. The partnership’s inaugural event, UFC 324, takes place Jan. 24 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, headlined by an explosive interim lightweight title clash between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett.
The fight signals a brand new chapter for the promotion, serving as the primary numbered event of 2026 and the official end of the pay-per-view era. UFC CEO Dana White made the blockbuster announcement during halftime of the Chiefs vs. Cowboys Thanksgiving game, promising fans “the most important begin to a brand new broadcast era ever.”
Dana White announcement on CBS during today’s Chiefs VS Cowboys halftime UFC will kick off its Paramount+ partnership in Vegas.
UFC 324
T-Mobile Arena Las Vegas
Jan 24, 2026Note: 9PM EST start time
NO PPV!
— The Sportsnista (@TheSportsnista) November 28, 2025
Gaethje, the previous interim champion and a perennial fan favorite, has made a profession out of chaos with 14 post-fight bonuses in 14 UFC appearances. Across the cage, Pimblett’s unbeaten 7-0 start and unmatched charisma have made him one among the game’s fastest-rising stars. The winner is predicted to challenge reigning champion Ilia Topuria later within the yr to unify the lightweight title.
Within the co-main event, women’s MMA royalty collides as Kayla Harrison defends her bantamweight crown against Amanda Nunes, who returns from retirement for her first fight since mid-2023. Nunes, the game’s biggest female fighter, goals to reclaim gold against the two-time Olympic gold medalist, who’s looked flawless at 3-0 contained in the Octagon.
The remainder of the major card boasts a mixture of champions, legends, and surging prospects. Former bantamweight king Sean O’Malley takes on Song Yadong, while Waldo Cortes Acosta faces knockout machine Derrick Lewis. Featherweight motion returns with Arnold Allen making his comeback against power puncher Jean Silva.
The prelims feature more star power, including a high-stakes bout between Alexa Grasso and Rose Namajunas, a test for Umar Nurmagomedov against Deiveson Figueiredo, and a middleweight tilt between Ateba Gautier and Andrey Pulyaev.
UFC 324 signals the start of a transformative chapter for the game—free streaming, mega-stars, and no shortage of violence under the Vegas lights.
UFC 324 Fight Card (Jan. 24, Paramount+)
The primary card of 2026 goes to be WILD 🍿
[ #UFC 324 | 📺 LIVE January 24 on @ParamountPlus] pic.twitter.com/9sLdkW63Xk
— UFC (@ufc) November 28, 2025
- Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett — interim lightweight title
- Kayla Harrison (c) vs. Amanda Nunes — women’s bantamweight title
- Sean O’Malley vs. Song Yadong — bantamweights
- Waldo Cortes Acosta vs. Derrick Lewis — heavyweights
- Arnold Allen vs. Jean Silva — featherweights
- Alexa Grasso vs. Rose Namajunas — women’s bout
- Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Deiveson Figueiredo — bantamweights
- Ateba Gautier vs. Andrey Pulyaev — middleweights