LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JANUARY 24: (R-L) Justin Gaethje strikes Paddy Pimblett of England within the UFC light-weight interim championship bout in the course of the UFC 324 occasion at T-Cellular Area on January 24, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Picture by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
Zuffa LLC
UFC’s Paramount period acquired off to a strong begin, however the principle occasion–whereas thrilling–was peculiar. Justin Gaethje captured the interim UFC light-weight title with a unanimous-decision win over Paddy Pimblett.
The combat was unquestionably the perfect scrap of the night, however the best way it performed out was plain unusual. Pimblett, the professional grappler with the underdeveloped stand-up expertise, by no means as soon as made a real try to take Gaethje to the bottom.
Whereas Pimblett had his moments within the 25-minute warfare, he was principally battered across the Octagon as he selected to attempt to win the interim strap by combating his opponent’s combat.
I don’t wish to take an excessive amount of away Gaethje or the uncooked pleasure of the combat, however as a fan of sports activities and MMA, I prefer to see one fighter deliver their finest in in opposition to their opponent’s finest.
We didn’t see that from Pimblett. The very fact that there have been nearly no requires him to take Gaethje down from the commentary group was even wilder.
Nonetheless, congratulations to Gaethje, the brand new interim champion.
Sean O’Malley Again within the Win Column
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JANUARY 24: (L-R) Sean O’Malley faces Music Yadong of China in the course of the UFC 324 occasion at T-Cellular Area on January 24, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Picture by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC)
Zuffa LLC
The previous UFC bantamweight champion is again within the winners column after a two-year drought. Music pushed O’Malley to the brink and the primary was was shut, however O’Malley was dominant within the third and remaining body to earn the victory.
After the win, O’Malley referred to as out reigning champion Petr Yan for a rematch. O’Malley gained the primary assembly. The extra logical combat would see O’Malley tackle one other winner from Saturday evening–Umar Nurmagomedov.
UFC 324 Bonus Winners
Battle of the Night time
Gaethje and Pimblett each claimed bonuses for Battle of the Night time.
UFC Bonuses
Ty Miller and Josh Hokit took dwelling the opposite $100,000 bonuses.
Each fighter who gained by KO or submission who didn’t get a $100K bonus earned a further $25,000.
Essential Card Outcomes
- Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett – UFC Interim Light-weight Championship
- Sean O’Malley def. Music Yadong through unanimous determination (29-28×3)
- Waldo Cortes-Acosta def. Derrick Lewis through TKO (strikes), Spherical 2
- Natalia Silva def. Rose Namajunas through unanimous determination (29-28×3)
- Jean Silva def. Arnold Allen through unanimous determination (29-28×3)
Prelims
- Umar Nurmagomedov def. Deiveson Figueiredo – Unanimous Resolution (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Ateba Gautier def. Andrey Pulyaev – Unanimous Resolution (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
- Nikita Krylov def. Modestas Bukauskas – KO, Spherical 3, 4:57
- Alex Perez def. Charles Johnson – TKO (strikes), Spherical 1, 3:16
- Josh Hokit def. Denzel Freeman – TKO (strikes), Spherical 1, 4:59
- Ty Miller def. Adam Fugitt – TKO, Spherical 1, 4:59
