UFC CEO Dana White has struck a huge blow to the mixed martial arts scene with the blockbuster card of UFC 324, and the event has the potential to be one of the most splendid events in recent years. The announcement, which was during the halftime of the NFL Thanksgiving game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Kansas City Chiefs, shows the ambitious nature of the promotion in its shift to streaming on Paramount+.
The buzz around town is the interim lightweight title fight between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett, as well as the much-hyped women’s bantamweight defence of the championship between Kayla Harrison and the returning legend Amanda Nunes. Not only will this card be the starting point of a new broadcasting era, but it is also an assurance of fireworks that can restructure divisions in 2026.
The Dana White Massive UFC 324 Announcement Breakdown
The news was delivered at a rapid pace as White verified that UFC 324 is scheduled to be held on January 10, 2026, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Topping the list of the event is the interim lightweight championship fight between American knockout artist Justin Gaethje and the boastful British sensation Paddy Pimblett.
Gaethje, who brings forth the pressure, procedural highlight-reel finishes, comes in as a senior citizen seeking gold after waging wars in the Octagon. On the other hand, Pimblett is soaring in popularity thanks to his charismatic image and submission abilities, but this fight is his most difficult one to date against a former interim champion. White highlighted that the winner will unify the title against undefeated lightweight champion Ilia Topuria later on in the year and placed colossal stakes on the fight.
In the co-main event, not wanting to be left behind, Kayla Harrison will defend her bantamweight title against Amanda Nunes, the Brazilian icon who retired in 2023 but hinted at a comeback weeks before. Nunes is easily considered the greatest female fighter of all time, having won over such legendary fighters as Ronda Rousey and Cris Cyborg, but at 37 years old, she returns to the cage to attempt to assert her dominance over Harrison.
Harrison, the two-time Olympic judo gold medalist, took the title in a forceful fashion earlier this year and she is eager to meet the Lioness in what she terms a dream match. This is a fight that has been simmering since the time that Harrison made his UFC debut, and fans are compelled to argue about how the experience of Nunes will be able to overcome the raw power and grappling skills of Harrison.
To further add more appeal to the card, ex-bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley comes back to the ring to face rising rival Song Yadong. Sidelined by an injured leg since his last defence of the title, O’Malley hopes to re-establish his flash-and-bang against the boxing and knockout capabilities of Yadong, the Chinese.
Heavyweight fan favourite Derrick Lewis also stands out, as he battles Waldo Cortes-Acosta in a match that promises to be a bomb. Lewis, the UFC all-time knockout leader, is riding off a resurgent 2025, and Cortes-Acosta is on the back of lead-to-back finishes.
MMA Community Reacts to UFC 324 Title Matches
The news has sparked a tempest of reactions on social media and the fighter circles. Lightweight fighter Arman Tsarukyan, who just dominated Dan Hooker at UFC Qatar, also complained about not getting the interim title shot, tweeting that he should be the next to get an opportunity at Topuria.
The retired champion Max Holloway stated that he was on board with Topuria to go on hiatus until spring 2026, because the family has to spend time with him during the rigorous training regimen of the sport. Holloway himself is the one to defend his BMF title against Charles Oliveira, which he has been rumoured to defend, but an accidental release of social media by UFC was promptly removed and is subject to speculation.
Paddy Pimblett did not take long before trash-talking and uploaded a video to mock Tsarukyan by captioning it, You like apples? – a hint at his pre-fight self-confidence in the Gaethje fight. As a professional, Gaethje made it easy with a commentary that he was prepared to give another thriller.
Bets have already been taken, and Gaethje is a slight underdog despite his experience, which is indicative of the Pimblett momentum and fan support. Nunes is also an underdog in her comeback since oddsmakers prefer Harrison due to his age and the fact that he has been active of late.
Future Implications on UFC in 2026 and Beyond
This UFC 324 card is not only about the fights, but it is an indication of the UFC’s aim under the new seven-year, $7.7 billion agreement with Paramount Skydance Corporation. Beginning in 2026, all events will be streamed on Paramount+ + with no extra subscriptions or pay-per-view, another first in accessibility.
Events such as UFC 324 will be initialised at 9 p.m. ET now and will serve a bigger audience. White even hinted at additional crossovers, such as possible fighter guest appearances on Paramount programs, mashing MMA and mainstream entertainment.
In the case of the lightweight division, the interim title brings excitement, considering that Topuria has been on hiatus. The Georgian-Spanish superstar declared that he will not box within the first quarter of 2026 to concentrate on personal issues and said, I have no intention of holding the division.
This gives entry to traders such as Tsarukyan and Islam Makhachev, who can line up unification fights. With Nunes winning the women’s bantamweight one, it would be a trilogy or rematch in the making,g and Harrison would be crowned the queen of the new era.
UFC 325 Contributes to the Hype with Volkanovski Rematch
Right after announcing UFC 324, white also announced that UFC 325 will be on January 31 in Sydney, Australia, topped by the featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski defending against Diego Lopes in a rematch. Volkanovski acknowledged that other competitors, such as Movsar Evloev or Lerone Murph,y could have been more worthy but credited the UFC in promoting Lopes because of his entertaining manner. Lopes replied to opponents and encouraged them to work and quit whining.
These announcements follow a chaotic 2025 of MMA, with media changes, retirements, and scandals such as the UFC 322 brawl in New York City, in which Mayor Eric Adams promised punishments. With the sport moving into 2026, UFC 324 is a promise of high-stakes drama, mixing old and new talents.
Sold-out arenas, record streaming, and memorable moments can be anticipated by the fans, which will make the future of mixed martial arts. As the training camps go into full swing, the time to January 10 has begun and is sure to be a night to make a legacy and test a champion.
