The first UFC card of the new year is headlined by two title fights.
The pre-fight narrative: With Ilia Topuria out of action for the foreseeable future, Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett will lock horns for the interim lightweight championship. Before that, Amanda Nunes makes her return the cage to challenge Kayla Harrison for the women's bantamweight title in the co-main event.
Check out the UFC 324 fight card and latest betting odds for the Jan. 24, 2026, event in Las Vegas.
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UFC 324 fight card and odds
| Fighter | Odds | Weight class | Odds | Fighter |
| Justin Gaethje (4) | +175 | Lightweight | -225 | Paddy Pimblett (5) |
| Kayla Harrison (C) | -200 | Bantamweight (W) | +155 | Amanda Nunes |
| Sean O'Malley (3) | -250 | Bantamweight | +187 | Song Yadong (5) |
| Waldo Cortes-Acosta (5) | -334 | Heavyweight | +235 | Derrick Lewis (8) |
| Arnold Allen (6) | +180 | Featherweight | -239 | Jean Silva (10) |
UFC 324 odds as of 3:05 p.m. on 12/21/2025.
UFC 324 main event: Gaethje vs. Pimblett
This isn't a true title fight, but still super exciting nonetheless.
These are two of the most explosive fighters in the UFC, so fans should expect a banger to close out the night.
Pimblett had a meteoric rise in the promotion, winning seven fights in a row en route to this title opportunity. He ended five of those bouts before the final bell.
The Englishman is a smothering grappler who is always looking for a finish when in a dominant position.
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Gaethje is also very violent, but he does most of his work at the kickboxing range. Only three of his 11 UFC fights have gone the distance.
He takes a ton of damage each fight, but he strives in the line of fire. Gaethje absorbs 7.18 significant strikes per minute compared to dishing out 6.59.
This has all the makings of a high-action bout that could be an early contender for fight of the year.
UFC 324 fight card: Harrison vs. Nunes
- Harrison won the bantamweight title after just three fights in the UFC. What's her reward? She gets to welcome back the GOAT of women's MMA for her first title defence. The champ is a legit Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, and she's finished 14 of 19 wins by either submission or ground and pound.
- Nunes hasn't fought since 2023 and is deservedly the underdog in her first fight back. If she wants to reclaim UFC gold, she'll need to keep this fight on the feet, where she has a significant advantage. If Harrison gets her to the mat with ease, it's hard to see Nunes having any success.
O'Malley vs. Yadong UFC 324
- O'Malley, the former bantamweight champ, looks to rebuild his momentum after back-to-back losses to Merab Dvalishvili. He will need to get past Yadong, who's entering his prime at 28 years old and holds an 11-3-1 UFC record.
- Dvalishvili is expected to get an immediate rematch with new champ Petr Yan, but the winner of this fight should be next in line. Before losing two straight, O'Malley was on a six-fight win streak.
Cortes-Acosta vs. Lewis UFC 324
- Cortes-Acosta has a case for fighter of the year in the heavyweight division, as he surged up the rankings. He went 4-1 to reach an overall record of 16-2. He fought twice in the month of November, winning each bout by knockout. He has all the momentum ahead of this fight.
- Lewis is nearing the end of his career, but he's still dangerous. He's on a two-fight win streak, most recently knocking out prospect Tallison Teixeira in a fight where he was also a sizeable underdog. Lewis holds the record for most UFC knockouts with 16 in his 30-fight career.
UFC 324 fight card: Allen vs. Silva
- Allen started his UFC career by winning 10 straight fights to reach the pinnacle of the featherweight division. He then ran into two of the best (Max Holloway, Mosvar Evloev) and lost both bouts. The good news is he got back into the win column in 2025, beating Giga Chikadze by dominant decision.
- Silva was one of the most hyped prospects in the UFC, winning his first five fights by finish. He then ran into Diego Lopes and got outclassed for two rounds before being knocked out by a spinning elbow.
- Allen may not be a championship-calibre fighter, but he's a legit staple in the top five of this division. A win for Silva could propel him to the next title shot in a loaded featherweight division.
