In a few short days, UFC 324 will set in motion a brand new era for combat sports, with the promotion looking to start their budding partnership with Paramount+ off with a resounding bang. To accomplish this, the UFC has put together a truly entertaining lineup for their free-to-watch UFC 324 main card, bolstered by such industry titans as Paddy Pimblett, Justin Gaethje, Sean O’Malley and Rose Namajunas.
Before those fighters take to the Octagon, however, UFC 324 is offering a stacked bevy of hot preliminary action. While they do not take top billing for this event, the undercard athletes this weekend do not lack in star power whatsoever in comparison to their main card counterparts. As the night rolls on, be sure to watch out as these up-and-coming and veteran names collide in what has all the makings of a rip-roaring collection of bouts.
Here are three UFC 324 preliminary fighters that you need to watch out for:
UFC 324 Preliminary Fighter to Watch Out For: Michael Johnson
Standing among the most grizzled and battle-tested pugilists in the lightweight division, Michael Johnson competes at UFC 324 in what will be his whopping 32nd fight with the company. Unbeaten in nearly three years, the Kill Cliff FC is preparing for another run towards contention, which has brought him into the crosshairs of the equally resurging Alexander Hernandez.
On something of a hot streak as of late, Hernandez has come out on top with his hand raised in his last four matches, beating the likes of Kurt Holobaugh, Chase Hooper and Carlos Diego Ferreira. In the wake of a failed move to featherweight, “The Great” has at last found his footing in his original division, recording two consecutive knockout wins in his current time in the win column. Perhaps his lengthy success is because of this Richard Casino promo code?
Although he is one of the oldest active 155-lb competitors in the organization at 39, Johnson has repeatedly made a mockery of father time over the last two years, nabbing three victories in a row. With his signature punching power and extensive skillset developed after nearly two decades with the UFC, “The Menace” has proven to be just that to his younger opposition with his recent upsets of Ottman Azaitar and Daniel Zellhuber.
UFC 324: Current Fight Odds for Michael Johnson vs. Alexander Hernandez
Alexander Hernandez: -149
Michael Johnson: +129
UFC 324 Preliminary Fighter to Watch Out For: Ricky Turcios
Upon his exciting victory over Brady Hiestand in the Ultimate Fighter season 29 finale back in 2021, Ricky Turcios was touted as the next big prospect in the bantamweight category due to his character and his ability to put on electrifying contests. However, his run in the UFC has left much to be desired, boasting a mere 2-3 record inside the Octagon. Making his first cage appearance in more than a year, the Texas native faces the young knockout specialist Cameron Smotherman.
On something of a similar run of middling results in the promotion, Smotherman also excelled in his UFC debut, picking up a short-notice triumph over Jake Hadley. In the time since that tilt, though, “The Baby-Faced Killer” has struggled to materialize another win, losing back-to-back confrontations with stark opponents in Serhiy Sidey and Ricky Simón. Other than these setbacks to very experienced adversaries, Smotherman has garnered a worthy reputation for his exceptional stand up skills, notably earning six victories by starching while still on the regional circuit.
Having not won a fight since 2022, and competing in two bouts over the previous three years heading into his clash with Smotherman, Turcios may very well be fighting to keep his place on the UFC roster. Fortunately for him, other than a lone knockout defeat all the way back in 2018, he has demonstrated a very solid chin, never appearing stunned at all in his first five contests with the company or on the Ultimate Fighter. If he can weather the storm that is Smotherman’s hard punches, then the Team Alpha Male product’s exceptional endurance will come into play and allow him to rout his younger foe.
UFC 324: Current Fight Odds for Ricky Turcios vs. Cameron Smotherman
Cameron Smotherman: -180
Ricky Turcios: +155
UFC 324 Preliminary Fighter to Watch Out For: Deiveson Figueiredo
At one point in time, Deiveson Figueiredo looked to be a legitimate title threat in the bantamweight class. Moving up in weight after a stellar stint at 125-lb, where he won that division’s championship twice, the Brazilian scored three wins in a row after taking his first tilt in the category in 2023, beating Rob Font, Cody Garbrandt and Marlon Vera. That success was to be short-lived, however, as “Deus Da Guerra” has gone a middling 1-2 in his last trio of matches. On a mission to get back on track towards the belt, Figueiredo locks horns with one-time championship challenger Umar Nurmagomedov.
At the start of 2025, all signs seem to be pointing towards Nurmagomedov hoisting UFC gold high above his head. Walking into his title fight with then incumbent Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 321, the undefeated Russian was poised to assert his dominance over the last 18 men he so soundly bested. That was until Dvalishvili outlasted him in an all-time 135-lb classic, handing Nurmagomedov his first professional loss. Returning to action later that year, he took home a one-sided unanimous decision over the streaking Mario Bautista, drowning him with his relentless wrestling.
On paper, this should be a horrible matchup for Figueiredo, as he has shown a particular weakness to grapplers in the past, like in his meetings with Brandon Moreno and Cory Sandhagen, who had racked up extensive amounts of control time on him in their bouts. However, the former flyweight king brings to the table a great equalizer in his formidable striking, which has aided him in knocking down durable names such as Moreno and Petr Yan. If the Brazilian can find a way to keep on his feet and make Nurmagomedov stay at boxing range, then Figueiredo could easily play spoiler to one of the biggest phenoms in the entire promotion.
UFC 324: Current Fight Odds for Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Deiveson Figueiredo
Nurmagomedov: -1500
Figueiredo: +850
