Get ready for an explosive start to the UFC on Paramount era with UFC 324! The highly anticipated fight card has been unveiled, and it's a doozy.
At the UFC 323 event, the promotion dropped a bombshell, revealing the preliminary lineup for the first event of 2026. Mark your calendars for January 24th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, where an interim lightweight title fight will take center stage. Justin Gaethje, a fan favorite, will go head-to-head with the charismatic Paddy Pimblett. But here's where it gets controversial... Kayla Harrison, the women's bantamweight champion, will defend her title against the legendary Amanda Nunes, who is making her return to the octagon.
The UFC has also officially confirmed two bouts first reported by MMA Fighting. Light heavyweight Modestas Bukauskas will face Nikita Krylov, and in a flyweight showdown, Alex Perez takes on Charles Johnson.
And this is the part most people miss - the UFC has added some exciting new matchups to the card. Michael Johnson will battle it out with Alexander Hernandez in a lightweight clash, while Ricky Turcios and Cameron Smotherman will square off in a bantamweight bout.
Starting with UFC 324, all numbered events will have a new main card start time of 9 p.m. ET. So, without further ado, let's dive into the updated UFC 324 lineup:
Main Card, Paramount+, 9 p.m. ET:
- Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett - An interim lightweight title fight that promises fireworks.
- Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes - A champion vs. legend showdown in the women's bantamweight division.
- Sean O'Malley vs. Song Yadong - A highly anticipated bantamweight bout.
- Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. Derrick Lewis - A heavyweight clash you won't want to miss.
- Jean Silva vs. Arnold Allen - Lightweight action to keep you on the edge of your seat.
Preliminary Card, Paramount +:
- Nikita Krylov vs. Modestas Bukauskas - A light heavyweight battle.
- Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Deiveson Figueiredo - A flyweight contest with potential title implications.
- Ateba Gautier vs. Andrey Pulyaev - A welterweight matchup.
- Alex Perez vs. Charles Johnson - A flyweight battle between past title challengers.
- Natalia Silva vs. Rose Namajunas - A women's strawweight bout.
- Josh Hokit vs. Denzel Freeman - A bantamweight clash to kick off the prelims.
- Ricky Turcios vs. Cameron Smotherman - A bantamweight tilt to round off the card.
With such a stacked card, UFC 324 is shaping up to be an event that will leave a lasting impression. Who do you think will emerge victorious in these highly anticipated matchups? Share your predictions and join the discussion in the comments! Remember, in the world of MMA, anything can happen, and the unexpected often becomes the talk of the town.
