UFC 324 Preview: Gaethje vs. Pimblett and Harrison vs. Nunes Headline Paramount Partnership Event
The UFC has exciting plans for its partnership with Paramount, as announced by UFC President Dana White during the CBS broadcast of the Dallas Cowboys vs. Kansas City Chiefs game. The upcoming UFC 324 event on Jan. 24 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas will feature an interim lightweight title fight between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett, as well as a bantamweight title fight between Kayla Harrison and Amanda Nunes. This event is the first of 13 numbered events scheduled under the Paramount partnership for 2026.
The decision to introduce an interim lightweight title fight was prompted by reigning champion Ilia Topuria's announcement that he will not be competing in the first quarter of 2026. Gaethje, a former interim champion, expressed his intention to wait for his title shot after his victory over Rafael Fiziev at UFC 313. Pimblett, who defeated Michael Chandler at UFC 314, also wanted to settle his issues with Topuria inside the Octagon. The winner of the interim bout is expected to face Topuria in a unification bout later in 2026.
Harrison, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and PFL champion, earned her bantamweight title after submitting Julianna Peña at UFC 316. She immediately called out Nunes for a future fight. Nunes, a former bantamweight and featherweight champion, announced her retirement after defending her 135-pound championship in June 2023. Now, she is returning to reclaim her throne and face Harrison in a highly anticipated matchup.
The main card of UFC 324 will also feature a bantamweight fight between former champion Sean O’Malley and rising contender Song Yadong. O’Malley is coming off back-to-back losses to current champion Merab Dvalishvili, while Song most recently won a controversial technical decision over Henry Cejudo. Other fights announced for the event include a heavyweight bout between Derrick Lewis and Waldo Cortes-Acosta, as well as a featherweight matchup between Arnold Allen and Jean Silva.
In conclusion, UFC 324 promises to be an action-packed event with exciting matchups and title fights that will keep fans on the edge of their seats. Stay tuned for more updates on this highly anticipated event.