Story Highlight
– Paddy Pimblett faces Justin Gaethje for interim lightweight title.
– Pimblett ranked fifth, after TKO victory over Chandler.
– Co-main features Sean O’Malley vs. Song Yadong.
– Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes fight canceled due to injury.
– UFC 324 scheduled for January 24 at T-Mobile Arena.
Full Story
UFC 324 will feature a high-profile clash between Paddy Pimblett from Liverpool and veteran fighter Justin Gaethje, as they vie for the interim lightweight championship. This will mark Pimblett’s inaugural attempt to secure a title, having ascended to fifth in the lightweight rankings following a decisive third-round TKO victory against Michael Chandler in April.
The victor of this pivotal matchup is expected to challenge Ilia Topuria, the current lightweight champion, who is currently on a hiatus from competition. The interim title up for grabs on Saturday previously belonged to Gaethje, adding an additional layer of intrigue to the contest.
In a notable shift, the event will also feature a highly anticipated bout in the women’s division that has now fallen through. Kayla Harrison was scheduled to defend her bantamweight title against Amanda Nunes, a renowned fighter making a return from retirement. Unfortunately, Harrison has sustained an injury, resulting in the cancellation of this marquee fight.
To fill the void left by the removed matchup, the co-main event will highlight former champion Sean O’Malley competing against Song Yadong in a bantamweight showdown. O’Malley, who faced a setback in his last bout against Merab Dvalishvili last June, will be aiming to reclaim his form. Meanwhile, Yadong comes into the fight with momentum, having secured victories in three of his past four appearances, including a notable win over former two-division champion Henry Cejudo.
UFC 324 is scheduled for Saturday, January 24, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The early prelims will commence at 10pm GMT (2pm PT / 4pm CT / 5pm ET), followed by the regular prelims at midnight GMT on Sunday (4pm PT / 6pm CT / 7pm ET on Saturday), leading up to the main card which kicks off at 2am GMT on Sunday (6pm PT / 8pm CT / 9pm ET on Saturday).
For viewers in the UK, the event will be broadcast live on TNT Sports Box Office for £19.99, while also being available through platforms such as Discovery+, EE TV, Virgin Media, Amazon Prime Video, and Sky Sports. In the United States, viewers can stream the event via Paramount+.
Current betting odds indicate Gaethje is at 7/4, while Pimblett is favored at 4/9. O’Malley is also favored at 4/9 against Yadong, who stands at 7/4, according to Betway.
The fight card is as follows (subject to change):
**Main Card:**
– Justin Gaethje vs Paddy Pimblett (interim lightweight title)
– Sean O’Malley vs Song Yadong (bantamweight)
– Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs Derrick Lewis (heavyweight)
– Natalia Silva vs Rose Namajunas (women’s flyweight)
– Arnold Allen vs Jean Silva (featherweight)
**Prelims:**
– Umar Nurmagomedov vs Deiveson Figueiredo (bantamweight)
– Nikita Krylov vs Modestas Bukauskas (light-heavyweight)
– Ateba Gautier vs Andrey Pulyaev (middleweight)
**Early Prelims:**
– Alex Perez vs Charles Johnson (flyweight)
– Josh Hokit vs Denzel Freeman (heavyweight)
– Adam Fugitt vs Ty Miller (welterweight)