UFC 324 is here! Six weeks after the No. 1 MMA promotion on the planet ended its 2025 schedule, the 2026 itinerary begins with a thrilling way to kick off the year. However, the year’s first event is unfortunately not one without last-minute cancellations.
Live coverage will kick off at an adjusted start time of 5:30 pm ET/ 2:30 pm PT with the early prelims, half an hour later than what was first planned. Late prelims follow at 7 pm ET/ 4 pm PT before capping the night with the five-fight main card at 9 pm ET/ 6 pm PT. 11 of the 12 fights planned for UFC 324 will go on as scheduled.
Effective tonight, all UFC events will be streamed without an extra fee on Paramount Plus. Early prelims will continue to be shown over UFC Fight Pass, however.
As previously mentioned, tonight’s show is now trimmed down to 11 fights from the 13 that fight week started with. Yesterday at the official weigh-ins, the Cameron Smotherman vs. Ricky Turcios fight was cancelled after the former encountered a fainting spell after weighing-in.
Earlier this afternoon, another fight was scrubbed just hours before showtime. A lightweight contest on the undercard that would have matched Michael Johnson with Alexander Hernandez has been pulled from UFC 324.
No specific word as to the reason for the postponement has been given at press time.
UFC 324 Main Event: UFC Interim Lightweight Championship: No. 4 Contender Justin Gaethje vs. No. 5 Contender Paddy Pimblett
Now let’s talk about the fights that are taking place tonight on the show. At the top of the bill this evening, the UFC Interim Lightweight Championship is at stake in the UFC 324 main event.
No. 4 contender Justin Gaethje (26-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) meets No. 5 contender Paddy Pimblett (23-3 MMA, 7-0 UFC.) This main event will be a maximum of five rounds at five minutes per round to close out the activities on this Saturday night.
UFC 324 Co-Main Event: No. 3 Contender Sean O’Malley vs. No. 5 Contender Song Yadong
Immediately beforehand, the co-main event of UFC 324 takes place at bantamweight. No. 3 contender Sean O’Malley (18-3, 1 NC MMA, 10-3, 1 NC UFC) meets up with No. 5 contender Song Yadong (22-8-1, 1 NC MMA, 11-3-1 UFC.)
This co-main attraction will be a maximum of three rounds at five minutes each.
Rest of the Card
Also on the main card tonight at UFC 324, you’ll be treated to a heavyweight fight matching No. 5 contender Waldo Cortes-Acosta (16-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) with No. 8 contender Derrick Lewis (29-12, 1 NC MMA, 20-10 UFC,) a women’s flyweight bout between No. 2 contender Natalia Silva (19-5-1 MMA, 7-0 UFC) and No. 5 contender Rose Namajunas (14-7 MMA, 12-6 UFC,) and a featherweight contest pairing No. 6 contender Arnold Allen (20-3 MMA, 11-2 UFC) against No. 10 contender Jean Silva (16-3 MMA, 5-1 UFC.)
Before the card begins tonight, our staff submitted their picks for UFC 324. See if your selections match up with theirs.
UFC 324 Results:
Main Card: (Tonight, 9 pm ET/ 6 pm PT, Paramount Plus)
Main Event: Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett, UFC Interim Lightweight Championship.
Co-Main Event: Sean O’Malley vs. Song Yadong
Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. Derrick Lewis
Natalia Silva vs. Rose Namajunas
Arnold Allen vs. Jean Silva
Prelims: (Tonight, 7 pm ET/ 4 pm PT, Paramount Plus)
Featured Prelim: Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Deiveson Figuereido
Co-Featured Prelim: Ateba Gautier vs. Andrey Pulyaev
Nikita Krylov vs. Modestas Bukauskas
Alex Perez vs. Charles Johnson
Early Prelims: (Tonight, 5:30 pm ET/ 2:30 pm PT, Paramount Plus and UFC Fight Pass)
Josh Hokit vs. Denzel Freeman
Ty Miller vs. Adam Fugitt
