UFC–Paramount Era Begins Jan. 24: UFC 324 Fight Card Locked With Gaethje vs. Pimblett, Harrison vs. Nunes, Earlier Start Time

The first event of the new UFC–Paramount partnership is set: UFC 324 lands at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, January 24, 2026, with a double-title headliner and a notable shift in viewing times. The main card is slated to begin at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT, one hour earlier than the long-standing 10 p.m. ET window. The organization expects this earlier start to become the standard for its flagship shows under the new deal.

UFC 324 fight card: Gaethje vs. Pimblett headlines; Harrison vs. Nunes co-mains

• Interim Lightweight Title: Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett
  With lightweight champion Ilia Topuria away on personal leave, the division moves forward via an interim belt. Gaethje brings elite stopping power and relentless pressure; Pimblett arrives on the back of a high-profile run that’s moved him from prospect to pay-per-view centerpiece. The winner is expected to face Topuria for the undisputed title when he returns.

• Women’s Bantamweight Title: Kayla Harrison (c) vs. Amanda Nunes
  Harrison’s first defense doubles as a megafight: Nunes, the long-reigning former champion, ends her hiatus for a bid to reclaim gold. Stylistically, it’s irresistible—Harrison’s top-game suffocation and clinch control against Nunes’ cold, surgical power and veteran shot selection.

• Ranked Flyweight Showcase (added today): Alex Perez vs. Charles Johnson
  A fresh addition tightens the main card’s spine. Perez, a former title challenger, looks to stabilize after a turbulent run; Johnson rides momentum from five wins in six with sharper finishing instincts.

Expect further bout order details and prelim assignments to finalize in the coming days, but the backbone of the card is in place.

Dana White’s latest notes and the reaction cycle

The road to UFC 324’s reveal has been unusually public. The centerpiece bouts were first teased during a Thanksgiving NFL halftime segment, and today’s updates clarified two key points: the earlier 9 p.m. ET main-card start and additional ranked action at flyweight. Around the announcement, fighter chatter has been loud:

• Sean O’Malley labeled the reveal “weird,” floating that a Pimblett matchup with Topuria had once been discussed before the champ stepped away.

• Tony Ferguson, who has shared the cage with both Gaethje and Pimblett, weighed in with matchup thoughts from a rare vantage—experience against each man.

• Veteran voices—including former champions who’ve faced Gaethje—have framed the main event as finesse and pace (Pimblett) vs. controlled chaos and leg-kick attrition (Gaethje).

The discourse underscores what the promotion is banking on: a style clash that reads clearly to casual fans and a co-main that hardcore audiences have wanted for years.

Style study: why Gaethje vs. Pimblett could get wild

• Gaethje’s levers: Inside-low kicks to disrupt stance, counter right hand over the jab, and a knack for forcing panicked entries that yield uppercuts and hooks.

• Pimblett’s paths: Pocket combinations once he finds rhythm, opportunistic level changes if exchanges stretch long, and improved shot selection in round-ending flurries.

• X-factors: Gaethje’s leg-kick volume over 10–15 minutes vs. Pimblett’s ability to win the second and third rounds with pace, grappling pressure, and crowd-swaying surges.

If Pimblett can check or deter the early leg-kick barrage, his chance to bank minutes grows. If Gaethje dents the lead leg early, his power combinations land cleaner.

Harrison vs. Nunes: champion vs. legend

• Harrison: Dominant from clinch to mat; excels at chaining throws into half-guard rides. The key is mat returns—don’t let Nunes reset at distance.

• Nunes: First-step explosiveness, pocket counters, and the craft to win minutes off the back foot. Her best looks come when she punishes level-change tells with uppercuts or knees.

• Endgame questions: Can Harrison keep early grappling control without burning out grips? Can Nunes keep her feet off the fence and force exchanges in the center?

This is one of the rare matchups where either woman could win inside a round—or grind a chess match to the cards.

What the Paramount deal means for viewers

• Earlier marquee start: 9 p.m. ET main cards shorten the night and could widen casual viewership.

• Distribution: Numbered events move to the new streaming home, with select dates also airing on broadcast; UFC 324 itself is positioned as the showcase launch.

• Cadence: The promotion is signaling a quick follow-up with UFC 325 soon after, maintaining momentum out of launch weekend.

Names to track beyond the top two fights

• Tony Ferguson: Pointed analysis from a man who’s tested both headliners; also a barometer for how veterans see Pimblett’s leap in class.

• Justin Gaethje & Paddy Pimblett camp notes: Look for leg-kick counters drilled on one side and defensive shell tweaks on the other.

• Harrison & Nunes sparring partners: Early camp whispers already include high-level training looks designed to simulate each woman’s A-game.

UFC 324 is built to make noise: a stylistically combustible interim title main event, a legacy-rich bantamweight championship, and a cleaner, earlier viewing window as the UFC–Paramount era begins. With today’s schedule shift and a ranked flyweight clash added, the opener for 2026 now looks both deeper and easier to watch.