UFC 324: Gaethje vs. Pimblett Fight Card, Start Times & How to Watch on Paramount Plus
UFC 324 marks the promotion’s historic debut on Paramount Plus, moving away from traditional pay-per-view for the first time in company history. Justin Gaethje faces rising contender Paddy Pimblett for the interim UFC lightweight title in the main event on Saturday, January 24, 2026, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Las Vegas, Nevada — January 24, 2026
No updates at time of publishing.
What Happened
UFC 324 takes place Saturday night in Las Vegas as the first numbered UFC event to stream exclusively on Paramount Plus through a seven-year, $7.7 billion broadcasting partnership announced in late 2025. The card shifts the entire UFC production model away from pay-per-view, making all fights available via standard Paramount Plus subscription at no additional cost.
The main event features Justin Gaethje, the 37-year-old nicknamed “The Highlight,” against 31-year-old Paddy Pimblett, known as “The Baddy,” for the interim UFC lightweight championship. Gaethje carries a 26-5 professional MMA record, while Pimblett arrives undefeated in the UFC at 7-0 with a broader pro record listed at 23-3 in some reports.
In the co-main event, former bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley meets Song Yadong at 135 pounds after the originally scheduled Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes title bout was cancelled due to Harrison’s neck injury. Additional bouts on the main card include Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. Derrick Lewis at light heavyweight and Natalia Silva vs. Rose Namajunas in women’s flyweight competition.
Key Facts
Event: UFC 324 — Gaethje vs. Pimblett
Date: Saturday, January 24, 2026
Location: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
Main Card Start: 9:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM PT / 2:00 AM GMT (Sunday)
Prelims Start: 7:00 PM ET on Paramount Plus
Early Prelims Start: 5:00 PM ET on Paramount Plus
Main Event: Justin Gaethje (26-5, age 37) vs. Paddy Pimblett (7-0 in UFC, 23-3 pro record, age 31) for interim UFC lightweight title
Co-Main Event: Sean O’Malley vs. Song Yadong, bantamweight bout
Streaming Platform: Paramount Plus exclusively (all fights, no additional PPV fee)
Paramount Plus Cost: $8.99/month (Essential) or $13.99/month (Premium)
First UFC Numbered Event: This marks the inaugural numbered event on Paramount Plus under the new broadcast deal
Background & Context
Justin Gaethje entered the UFC in July 2017 with an undefeated 17-0 record before his professional career as a World Series of Fighting (WSOF) champion. His UFC debut against Michael Johnson at The Ultimate Fighter 25 finale resulted in a second-round TKO and earned him both “Fight of the Night” and “Performance of the Night” bonuses. Since that debut, Gaethje has accumulated 14 post-fight bonuses across his 14 UFC appearances, the most per-fight ratio in UFC history.
Gaethje’s fighting style emphasizes aggressive striking and stoppage wins over decision victories, making him one of the promotion’s most entertaining competitors despite an uneven record of wins and losses. He has not held the undisputed lightweight title but held the interim title previously. At age 37, entering 2026, this fight represents a potential final opportunity to capture the undisputed championship.
Paddy Pimblett, from Liverpool, England, began his professional career with Cage Warriors, where he won the featherweight title and contended for the lightweight championship between 2013 and 2021. He joined the UFC in September 2021 with his first professional fight in the promotion. Pimblett has since compiled a perfect 7-0 record inside the UFC Octagon. His most recent victories include a TKO over Michael Chandler at UFC 314 in April 2025 and a knockout of King Green.
The UFC-Paramount Plus partnership represents a fundamental shift in the promotion’s broadcasting model. Rather than requiring separate pay-per-view purchases, UFC numbered events will now stream to all Paramount Plus subscribers. The seven-year deal worth $7.7 billion consolidates 13 numbered events and 30 UFC Fight Night events on the streaming platform through 2033, eliminating traditional PPV pricing for the first time in the organization’s history.
Why It Matters
This event marks a watershed moment for UFC accessibility and distribution. The move to Paramount Plus at $8.99 monthly potentially lowers financial barriers for casual and regular MMA fans compared to historical $70-80 pay-per-view pricing. From a business perspective, the UFC’s shift to exclusive streaming signals industry-wide movement toward subscription-based rather than event-based revenue models.
The main event itself carries significant implications for the lightweight division. A Gaethje victory would likely position him for an undisputed title shot against current champion Ilia Topuria, while a Pimblett win would accelerate the 31-year-old’s emergence as a serious championship contender despite questions about the quality of his competition to date.
For the broader MMA audience, the technical execution of Paramount Plus’s streaming infrastructure on fight night will shape fan perception of the new broadcasting era. Server capacity, stream quality, and reliability will be closely monitored by viewers and industry observers.
Details & Analysis
Betting markets currently favor Paddy Pimblett in the interim lightweight title bout. According to odds reported by multiple sportsbooks, Pimblett’s line has shifted to -225 (favoring the Baddy), while Gaethje sits at +190 as the underdog, indicating market perception of Pimblett’s favorable position entering the fight.
Stylistically, Gaethje’s historically aggressive striking approach contrasts with Pimblett’s demonstrated takedown and submission threat. UFC Fight Pass statistics show Gaethje averages 6.59 significant strikes per minute with 58% accuracy. Pimblett, meanwhile, logs 5.19 significant strikes per minute at 53% accuracy but compensates with greater grappling activity — 0.96 takedowns per 15 minutes compared to Gaethje’s 0.10. Pimblett also averages 1.7 submission attempts per 15 minutes versus Gaethje’s 0.0.
Gaethje has demonstrated a capacity to compete with elite-level opposition throughout his UFC tenure. His recent record shows three wins in his last four fights entering this matchup. Pimblett’s perfect UFC record, however, is accompanied by analyst commentary questioning opponent selection; multiple observers have noted that Pimblett has faced fighters past their competitive primes during his UFC ascent.
One significant storyline involves Gaethje’s stated goal of recapturing championship relevance after previous title attempts. At 37 years old, Gaethje has limited remaining prime years in elite-level competition, making this interim title opportunity potentially his last realistic path to undisputed gold.
What Happens Next
If Justin Gaethje secures victory, the pathway to an undisputed lightweight championship bout against Ilia Topuria becomes clear, though timing and Topuria’s competing schedule would factor into booking.
A Paddy Pimblett win would position him as the mandatory challenger to Ilia Topuria for the undisputed lightweight title, significantly elevating his status from rising contender to legitimate title challenger. Such an outcome would validate the UFC’s decision to grant him a title opportunity at age 31 with limited competition at elite levels.
Sean O’Malley’s co-main event against Song Yadong carries bantamweight title implications. Victory could position O’Malley for a bantamweight championship shot, though current champion Merab Dvalishvili’s status and available challengers would influence booking decisions.
Following UFC 324, the promotion will continue its numbered event schedule on Paramount Plus at regular intervals through 2033. UFC Fight Night events (non-numbered cards) will also continue streaming on the platform throughout this period.
FAQs
Q: What time does the UFC 324 main event start?
The main card begins at 9:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM PT on Saturday, January 24, 2026. The Gaethje vs. Pimblett main event is expected to start around 11:00 PM ET as the evening’s final bout, though exact timing depends on fight duration in earlier bouts.
Q: Where can I watch UFC 324?
All UFC 324 fights stream exclusively on Paramount Plus with no additional pay-per-view fee. The service is available at $8.99/month (Essential plan) or $13.99/month (Premium plan). Early prelims begin at 5:00 PM ET, prelims at 7:00 PM ET, and the main card at 9:00 PM ET.
Q: Is this UFC 324 on regular Paramount Plus or do I need a special subscription?
All UFC numbered events and UFC Fight Night cards are included with both the Essential ($8.99/month) and Premium ($13.99/month) Paramount Plus plans. There is no additional charge or separate subscription tier for UFC content.
Q: What is Paddy Pimblett’s record?
Paddy Pimblett holds a perfect 7-0 record in the UFC since his September 2021 debut. His overall professional mixed martial arts record is listed as 23-3 according to most sources. His recent significant victories include TKO wins over Michael Chandler (UFC 314) and King Green.
Q: Who is favored in the Gaethje vs. Pimblett fight?
Paddy Pimblett is favored at -225 odds, while Justin Gaethje is listed as the underdog at +190 according to major sportsbooks. This reflects market perception of Pimblett’s advantages entering the interim title bout.
Sources & References
Forbes — “UFC 324: Fight Card: Date, Time, Location, How To Watch”
https://www.forbes.com/sites/trentreinsmith/2026/01/23/ufc-324-fight-card-date-time-location-how-to-watch-or-stream/ESPN MMA — “UFC 324: Gaethje vs. Pimblett Live Fight Coverage”
https://www.espn.com/mma/fightcenter/_/id/600057024/league/ufcUFC Stats — “UFC 324: Gaethje vs. Pimblett”
http://ufcstats.com/fight-details/fa4b3f5ce8055921Tom’s Guide — “How to watch UFC 324 on Paramount Plus”
https://www.tomsguide.com/entertainment/paramount-plus/how-to-watch-ufc-324-on-paramount-plusCBS Sports — “Where to watch UFC 324: Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett”
https://www.cbssports.com/ufc/news/ufc-324-justin-gaethje-paddy-pimblett-where-to-watch-stream-paramount/T-Mobile Arena Official — “UFC 324: Gaethje vs Pimblett”
https://www.t-mobilearena.com/events/detail/ufc-324UFC Official — “How To Watch And Stream UFC 324: Gaethje vs Pimblett”
https://www.ufc.com/news/how-watch-and-stream-ufcTechRadar — “UFC 324 live stream: how to watch Gaethje vs Pimblett online”
https://www.techradar.com/how-to-watch/sport/ufc-324-justin-gaethje-vs-paddy-pimblettWikipedia — “UFC 324”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFC_324Yahoo Sports MMA — “UFC 324 live results: Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett”
https://sports.yahoo.com/mma/breaking-news/
Disclaimer & Last Updated
This article contains factual information accurate as of January 24, 2026, based on official UFC announcements, venue information, and reputable sports news outlets. All times and dates are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances. Check official Paramount Plus or UFC.com for any last-minute updates or cancellations. Fight odds and betting lines may shift before event time. This article is for informational purposes and does not constitute sports betting advice.
Last Updated: January 25, 2026
Quick Takeaway
UFC 324 arrives as a historic milestone—the first numbered event on Paramount Plus—with Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett battling for the interim lightweight title Saturday night. Stream all fights live on Paramount Plus starting at 9:00 PM ET with no additional PPV fee required.