UFC 324 Delivered a Gaethje Title Win
UFC 324 ended with Justin Gaethje holding the interim lightweight title after a unanimous decision over Paddy Pimblett on January 24, 2026. The Las Vegas card at T-Mobile Arena also featured Sean O’Malley’s return to the win column and several dramatic preliminary stoppages.
The main-card decisions rewarded Gaethje, O’Malley and both Silvas
Gaethje won the five-round headliner 49–46, 49–46 and 48–47. O’Malley edged Song Yadong 29–28 across all three judges in the bantamweight co-main event.
Natalia Silva defeated Rose Namajunas unanimously by identical 29–28 scores. Jean Silva outpointed Arnold Allen 30–27, 29–28 and 29–28, completing the main card’s four decisions.
Heavyweight pressure and late counters supplied the finishes
Waldo Cortes-Acosta stopped Derrick Lewis at 3:14 of the second round. Nikita Krylov knocked out Modestas Bukauskas with three seconds remaining in their third-round preliminary contest.
Alex Perez defeated Charles Johnson by first-round technical knockout at 3:16. Josh Hokit and Ty Miller each finished with one second left in round one, beating Denzel Freeman and Adam Fugitt respectively.
Two further decisions completed the eleven-fight program
Umar Nurmagomedov swept Deiveson Figueiredo 30–27 on every card, while Ateba Gautier defeated Andrey Pulyaev 30–27, 29–28 and 29–28.
The planned Michael Johnson–Alexander Hernandez and Ricky Turcios–Cameron Smotherman bouts were canceled. Kayla Harrison’s injury had also postponed her championship meeting with Amanda Nunes, leaving Gaethje’s interim lightweight contest as the sole title fight.
Sources
- UFC: official scores and stoppage times
- MMA Fighting: complete card and cancellations
- UFC: Harrison postponement and card changes
