Dana White just dropped a bombshell announcement that has the MMA world buzzing. During halftime of the Chiefs vs. Cowboys Thanksgiving game on CBS, the UFC CEO revealed an absolutely stacked lineup for UFC 324, marking the promotion's debut on Paramount+. The event is set for January 24, 2026, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, and it's packed with title fights and major comebacks that will reshape the lightweight and women's bantamweight divisions.
The Interim Lightweight Title Showdown
The main event features
Justin Gaethje versus Paddy Pimblett competing for the interim lightweight title—a fight that became necessary after reigning champion
Ilia Topuria unexpectedly withdrew from competition. Topuria announced on Thursday that he's stepping away to focus on his family during a difficult personal time, leaving a massive void at the top of the division.
Gaethje, the former interim champion, brings his signature explosive style to the cage. The veteran has racked up an impressive
14 post-fight bonuses across his UFC appearances, making him one of the most exciting fighters on the roster. Pimblett, meanwhile, arrives undefeated in the UFC at
7-0, with five performance bonuses already earned. The winner of this bout is expected to face Topuria later in 2026 for the undisputed lightweight title.
Amanda Nunes Returns: The Biggest Women's Fight Ever
The co-main event is nothing short of historic.
Amanda Nunes, widely regarded as the greatest female fighter of all time, is coming out of retirement after a
two-and-a-half-year hiatus to challenge
Kayla Harrison for the women's bantamweight title. Nunes last fought in June 2023, when she defeated Julianna Peña before stepping away from competition.
Harrison, a
two-time Olympic gold medalist, has made an impressive start to her UFC career with a perfect
3-0 record since joining the promotion last year. However, facing Nunes—a UFC Hall of Famer and former two-division champion—represents the ultimate test. Dana White called this matchup "
the biggest women's fight we have seen," and it's hard to argue with that assessment given Nunes' legendary resume that includes victories over Ronda Rousey, Cris Cyborg, and Valentina Shevchenko.
A Stacked Main Card
The card doesn't stop there.
Sean O'Malley, the former bantamweight champion, returns to action against
Song Yadong in a critical bout for O'Malley's path back to title contention. O'Malley has suffered recent setbacks, including losses to Merab Dvalishvili, but faces a perennial contender in Yadong.
The heavyweight division gets its moment with
Waldo Cortes Acosta facing Derrick Lewis, while featherweight contender
Arnold Allen makes his return after an
18-month layoff against knockout artist
Jean Silva.
The Paramount+ Era Begins
This event marks a
historic shift for the UFC, as it's the first numbered event under the new partnership with Paramount+. White emphasized that the deal eliminates pay-per-view barriers for fans, making premium UFC content more accessible than ever. The main card will now begin at
9 p.m. ET, one hour earlier than previous events.
"This event starts our new deal with Paramount, and it is packed with champions," White stated during the CBS broadcast. He added that 2026 will be "our best year ever" under this partnership.
Preliminary Card Highlights
The preliminary fights are equally impressive, featuring former champions
Alexa Grasso versus Rose Namajunas, as well as a high-level bantamweight clash between
Umar Nurmagomedov and former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo.
What's Next
While UFC 324 steals the headlines, White also announced that
Alex Volkanovski will defend his featherweight title against Diego Lopes at UFC 325 in Sydney, Australia, on January 31. Volkanovski previously defeated Lopes by unanimous decision to claim the vacant featherweight title in April.
The stage is set for an unforgettable start to the UFC's Paramount+ era. With six current and former champions on the card, historic comebacks, and interim title implications, UFC 324 promises to be one of the most compelling events of early 2026.
1.
Times of India - Dana White drops big UFC 324 announcement2.
CBS Sports - UFC 324 fight card announcement3.
MMA Fighting - Dana White announces 2 massive title fights for UFC 324
Sources
1. Dana White drops big UFC 324 announcement as major ...
2. UFC 324 fight card: Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett ...
3. Dana White announces 2 massive title fights for UFC 324
