UFC 324 live results, highlights and play-by-play
UFC 324 Preview
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is live TONIGHT (Sat., Jan. 24, 2026)withthe first numbered event of the year (not a PPV anymore, remember!). UFC 324 is the first show of the Paramount+ era and the first numbered event that is not a PPV in the United States (you’ve still got to pony up extra for it in Canada, the U.K. and most other places).
UFC 324’s main event is Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett for the interim Lightweight title. The interim 155-pound strap is in play since Ilia Topuria has gone on hiatus to deal with some issues in his personal life.
Much has been said about the worthiness of these two fighters for this title (like this), especially when Arman Tsarukyan is being left out in the cold. Gaethje is coming off a win over Rafael Fiziev back in March 2025. That was his first fight since his epic UFC 300 knockout loss to Max Holloway in 2024 (relive that here). Pimblett’s last fight was his drubbing of Michael Chandler. Pimblett is on a long win streak in UFC, but his last half-dozen opponents have all been on the wrong side of 35.
The co-main event was supposed to be Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes for Harrison’s Bantamweight title, a title Nunes had held for a record time. However, that fight was cancelled after it was revealed that Harrison was requiring neck surgery (details here). That fight has now been shelved, possibly indefinitely.
Sean O’Malley vs. Song Yadong has been promoted to the co-main slot. Those two will be hoping to get another fight with Petr Yan, this time with a title on the line.
Rounding out the main card is Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. Derrick Lewis, Arnold Allen vs. Jean Silva and Natalia Silva vs. Rose Namajunas.
UFC 324’s “Prelims” have some interesting match-ups, including super prospect Ateba Gautier taking on Andrey Pulyaev, among others.
UFC 324 Start Date and Time
Well, this is easy — so long as you are in the United States.
You can watch all of UFC 324 with Paramount+. The Early Prelims start at 5:30 p.m. ET. The Late Prelims start at 7 p.m. ET. and the Main Card kicks off at 9 p.m. ET.
I will be providing live play-by-play, instant results, highlights and updates for all the fights right here starting at 5:30 p.m. ET.
See you then! Don’t forget to say “Hi” in the comments, too.
UFC 324 QUICK RESULTS
Main card
- 155 lbs.: Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett
- 135 lbs.: Sean O’Malley vs. Song Yadong
- 265 lbs.: Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. Derrick Lewis
- 125 lbs.: Natalia Silva def. Rose Namajunas by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- 145 lbs.: Jean Silva def. Arnold Allen by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Prelims
- 125 lbs.: Umar Nurmagomedov def. Deiveson Figueiredo by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- 185 lbs.: Ateba Gautier def. Andrey Pulyaev by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
- 205 lbs.: Nikita Krylov def. Modestas Bukauskas by KO (punches), round 3 (4:57) — HIGHLIGHTS
- 125 lbs.: Alex Perez def. Charles Johnsonby TKO(left hook), round 1 (3:16) — HIGHLIGHTS
Early Prelims
155 lbs.: Michael Johnson vs. Alexander Hernandez— CANCELED (details here)135 lbs.: Ricky Turcios vs. Cameron Smotherman— CANCELED (details here)- 265 lbs.: Josh Hokit def. Denzel Freeman by TKO (strikes, I guess), round 1 (4:59)
- 170 lbs.: Ty Miller def. Adam Fugitt by TKO (punches), round 1 (4:59) — HIGHLIGHTS
UFC 324 PLAY-BY-PLAY UPDATES
Main card
Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. Derrick Lewis
Round 1:
Natalia Silva vs. Rose Namajunas
Official decision: Natalia Silva def. Rose Namajunas by unanimous decision (29-28. 29-28, 29-28)
Round 3: Another lacklustre round. Silva came out chasing the fight, needing a finish. She didn’t get anywhere near to that, though.
29-28 Namajunas
Round 2: A lot more futility in the striking exchanges in this round, though Silva is at least looking a little aggressive. Namajunas manages to take her down and spend a good chunk of the round on top while Silva tries to set up an armbar that never comes.
20-18 Namajunas
Round 1: Not a lot happens in the opening round, with both women throwing a lot of strikes at the air just in front of their opponent. Silva seems especially tentative. She lets Namajunas come forwards and land kicks and out strike her in the round.
Namajunas 10-9
Arnold Allen vs. Jean Silva
Official decision: Jean Silva def. Arnold Allen by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Round 3: Silva came out aggressive with combos in the third. Allen tried to establish some wrestling, but Silva was able to prevent a takedown. Silva then opted for some clinch control and landed a flash takedown. Late in the round Silva lands some clubbing head kicks. He also takes a moment to jump off Allen’s prone body. That’s different. I have him winning that round and the fight.
Silva 29-28.
Round 2: Allen lands a hard one-two early and gets a finger wag from Silva. Silva responds with a takedown and some hard shots as Allen stands. Allen comes back with a flying knee right to Silva’s eye. That causes some damage and might hurt Silva’s ability to see later on. Silva sneaks in some hard punches, but then gets caught with another hard knee. Silva responds with another combo. Silva lands a spinning elbow and then laughs with his tongue out. He’s entering his flow state now. Silva wins the round for me.
19-19.
Round 1: Silva takes a patient approach to the round, looking to measure a big and/or special kind of shot. Allen shows a lot of movement and just chips away with mundane jabs and low kicks. He snaps Silva’s head back on one of those jabs. Silva uncorks a hard combo in the last ten seconds that wobbles Allen, but it’s not enough to take the round.
10-9 Allen.
Prelims
Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Deiveson Figueiredo: Nurmagomedov got the job done against Figueiredo. It wasn’t very exciting, but it was very effective. Nurmagomedov predictably grounded Figueiredo throughout the fight and did enough to ensure he was always in dominant positions, without over-stretching himself looking for a finish.
Ateba Gautier vs. Andrey Pulyaev: Gautier dropped Pulyaev with the first punch he threw and it felt like this would be done in 20 seconds. But Pulyaev survived and used his movement to tire and frustrate Gautier. As the fight went on the Russian landed numerous body kicks and some good punches, too. But Gautier connected, too, and when he did it felt like he was close to finishing the fight — that’s what ultimately won him the fight on the scorecards.
Nikita Krylov vs. Modestas Bukauskas: Krylov started well, controlling the fight with wrestling and clinch work. He then stung Bukauskas with a little counter shot. From then on, Bukauskas withdrew into his shell and fought with very little confidence. The opposite was true of Krylov. With his confidence boosted, he let his hands go and was able to get the third buzzer beating finish of the night.
Alex Perez vs. Charles Johnson: Johnson looked quick and clean early on, but maybe he was too casual. Perez caught him with a massive left hook and dropped him. Johnson was in survival mode from that moment on. Perez stayed patient and followed up with knees and another big hook to finally bring about the TKO. That’s a massive win for Perez, but also a very big stumble for Johnson.
Early Prelims
Josh Hokit vs. Denzel Freeman: Hokit’s levels of athleticism and activity are very rare quantities in Heavyweight MMA. He had all that on display while whooping on Freeman, the best opponent he’s ever faced. He out wrestled him and lit him up on the feet to earn his second first round finish in a row (albeit in strange fashion with referee Mark Smith calling an end to it after he saw Freeman was exhausted and struggling to stay on his feet). Hokit also took the opportunity to taunt Freeman multiple times during the fight.
Adam Fugitt vs. Ty Miller: This was a competitive striking affair for much of the round until Miller found a way through with some big shots. Fugitt almost made it to the buzzer, but came up just short. The first fight in the Paramount+ era is a first round TKO.
Live stream begins at 5:30 p.m. ET. …
