LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – DECEMBER 05: (L-R) Opponents Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett face off throughout the UFC It is On Seasonal Press Convention at T-Cell Enviornment on December 05, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photograph by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
Zuffa LLC
On Saturday, January 24, the UFC holds its first occasion of 2026. That combat card, UFC 324, is headlined by an interim title combat. In that matchup, former interim UFC light-weight titleholder Justin Gaethje faces Paddy Pimblett for the interim 155-pound belt. Earlier than that, ex-UFC bantamweight champ Sean O’Malley meets Music Yadong at 135 kilos. UFC 324 is the primary Paramount+ streaming occasion for the combat promotion.
We take a look at the early combat week betting odds for your entire UFC 324 combat card.
UFC 324 Full Struggle Card Betting Odds
UFC 324 Principal Card Betting Odds
Justin Gaethje (+190) vs. Paddy Pimblett (-225)
Sean O’Malley (-200) vs Music Yadong (+170)
Waldo Cortes Acosta (-330) vs Derrick Lewis (+270)
Natalia Silva (-400) vs Rose Namajunas (+330)
Arnold Allen (+210) vs Jean Silva (-250)
UFC 324 Preliminary Card Betting Odds
Umar Nurmagomedov (-1500) vs Deiveson Figueiredo (+850)
Ateba Gautier (-650) vs Andrey Pulyaev (+475)
Nikita Krylov (+118) vs Modestas Bukauskas (-138)
Alex Perez (+165) vs Charles Johnson (-190)
Michael Johnson (+129) vs Alexander Hernandez (-149)
Josh Hokit (-215) vs Denzel Freeman (+185)
Ricky Turcios (+155) vs Cameron Smotherman (-180)
Adam Fugitt (+355) vs Ty Miller (-425)
*Odds through BetOnline
UFC 324 Principal Occasion: Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – DECEMBER 05: (R-L) Opponents Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett face off throughout the UFC It is On Seasonal Press Convention at T-Cell Enviornment on December 05, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photograph by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC)
Zuffa LLC
When Justin Gaethje (26-5) joined the UFC in 2017 he had an ideal report of 17-0. Main as much as that signing, Gaethje had gained the World Collection of Combating light-weight title after which defended the belt 5 occasions. All six of his title fights below the WSOF banner ended by knockout.
Gaethje’s first combat with the UFC got here in July 2017, when he met Michael Johnson in the primary occasion of The Final Fighter 25 finale card. Expectations had been excessive for that matchup, and Gaethje delivered, choosing up a second-round TKO win over Johnson and incomes “Struggle of the Night time” and “Efficiency of the Night time” bonuses for a contest that gained a number of “Struggle of the 12 months” polls for 2017.
Each UFC combat Gaethje has been concerned in since has been seen with anticipation as he has one of the crucial fan-friendly kinds within the historical past of not simply the UFC however all of MMA. Gaethje won’t win each time he steps into the octagon, however he’s a fighter all the time trying to earn a stoppage win and entertain the followers. His 14 fight-night bonus awards in 14 UFC outings can attest to that.
Gaethje gained the interim UFC light-weight crown in Might 2020 with a knockout win over Tony Ferguson. Nonetheless, he did not unify the belts, dropping to then-champion Khabib Nurmagomedov by submission in October of that 12 months. Gaethje additionally fell brief in his second strive at profitable the UFC 155-pound belt, dropping a submission to Charles Oliveira for the vacant title in Might 2022.
Gaethje bounced again from that loss together with his majority determination victory over Fiziev at UFC 286. A combat that earned each males “Struggle of the Night time” honors. Garthje’s most up-to-date win was his “Efficiency of the Night time” bonus-winning outing over Poirier.
Gaethje has 20 profession knockout wins, one submission victory, and he’s been on the proper facet of 5 choices. The previous BMF champ’s profession losses have come by knockout (three) and submission (two).
Gaethje final fought in March 2025 when he defeated Rafael Fiziev by determination at UFC 313. After the win, Gaethje threatened to retire if he didn’t get a title combat. With UFC lightweight champ Ilia Topuria on the shelf, he will get that combat at UFC 324.
Paddy Pimblett (23-3) is a former Cage Warriors light-weight champion. He has slowly labored his method up the UFC rankings since making his promotional debut in September 2021. Now 7-0 with the UFC, Pimblett is coming off the most important win of his profession, an April 2025 TKO win over Michael Chandler at UFC 314.
Pimblett had a profitable run with the Cage Warriors promotion earlier than he joined the UFC in 2021. Throughout his time with Cage Warriors, which spanned 2013 by means of 2021, Pimblett gained and defended the CW featherweight title and fought for that promotion’s light-weight crown.
Pimblett has been a fan favourite since he made his UFC debut and whereas some have been essential of the matchmaking the UFC have offered for Pimblett, one thing he addressed on the UFC 314 pre-fight press convention.
Gaethje enters UFC 324 because the No. 4 fighter within the official UFC lightweight rankings, whereas Pimblett checks in at No. 5.
We could have extra on UFC 324 as combat night time nears.
