We're Finally Back
- Benjamin Furnish
- Jan 16
- 4 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
It's been nearly five weeks since the UFC octagon has been under the bright lights. For the UFC's first event of 2026, in partnership with Paramount+, they return to the global fight capital, Las Vegas, Nevada. This card is the perfect way to start 2026. With that, let's dive into the main card.
Justin Gaethje vs Paddy Pimblett
In the main event of UFC 324, Justin Gaethje, an all-time legend, looks for one last chance to fulfill his title dreams, as he steps in against the favourite, Paddy Pimblett, for the Interim Lightweight Championship.
For the UFC, this matchup was not the original plan. Undisputed champion Ilia Topuria was expected to defend his title against one of these two fighters, but due to legal problems, he's been forced to the sidelines indefinitely. With the length of his absence unknown, the UFC was forced to arrange an interim title fight.
For Justin Gaethje, this is a must-win. The legend received major backlash for his apparent entitlement to a title shot.
With contenders like Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira having beaten him, coupled with his recent resume, many critics question Gaethje's deservingness of a title shot. With his recent victory coming over 13th-ranked Rafael Fiziev, Gaethje essentially stated that if he wasn't granted a title shot, he'd retire.
On the other side is a worldwide sensation, Paddy Pimblett.
Following his debut in the UFC, Dana White and fans alike knew they had a star on their hands. With his signature blonde hair, Pimblett is hard to miss.
Like his counterpart, Pimblett's resume is shallow compared to top contenders like Holloway, Oliveira, and Arman Tsarukyan. With recent wins over Michael Chandler, Bobby (King) Green, and Tony Ferguson, Pimblett has yet to face a top contender.
However, this fight throws him right into the deep end. Stylistically, we know what Gaethje brings, and that's chaos. With a UFC record of 14 fight night bonuses, a Justin Gaethje fight is guaranteed to bring violence.
To beat Pimblett, he'll have to keep the fight on the feet. Gaethje will need to walk Pimblett down and use his potent leg kicks, chopping Pimblett down like a tree. If Gaethje can create chaotic exchanges and turn the fight into a 'slug fest,' he'll find success.
On the other end, Pimblett will need to force the fight to the ground. With one of the best jiu-jitsu arsenals in the game, Pimblett is a constant submission threat. He'll need to weather the early storm from Gaethje and bring the fight into deep waters.
A bad habit of Pimblett's has been leaving his chin in the air during striking exchanges, and against a fighter of Gaethje's caliber, that's a recipe for disaster. He'll need to dictate the pace, stay on the front foot, and effectively manage distance.
However, what we do know is that Justin Gaethje is no stranger to ruining UFC plans.
When he defeated Tony Ferguson for the interim title, the UFC's plan was a mega-fight between Ferguson and Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Similarly, the UFC is looking to capitalize on the heated rivalry between Pimblett and Ilia Topuria.
So, the question is, will Pimblett cement his status? Or will Gaethje crash the party?
Sean O'Malley vs Song Yadong
In the co-main event, former Bantamweight champion Sean O'Malley takes on Song Yadong.
For O'Malley, this is a must-win. Coming off consecutive losses to Merab Dvalishvili, O'Malley needs to make a statement.
For Song, this is a chance to put himself into immediate title contention.
Stylistically, this fight is guaranteed to be on the feet.
For O'Malley, this fight is tailor-made for success. He thrives against shorter, kickboxers who like to march forward.
His ability to find opponents' chins is second-to-none, and his sharp accuracy is what allowed him to become champion. Not having to deal with the wrestling threat will allow O'Malley to flow on the feet, picking and executing his shots.
For Song, despite his striking credentials, he may look to implement his ground game. Is it other-worldly? No. But is it superior to O'Malley? Yes.
If Song decides to keep the fight standing, he'll have to use lateral movement. Marching straight forward or retreating straight back is guaranteed disaster when facing Sean O'Malley.
But this is MMA, not kickboxing, and if Song can effectively mix up his attacks, he'll have a good chance of victory.
So, will Song become the next title contender, or will O'Malley remind everyone that there are levels to this game?
Rest Of The Card
The rest of the card is filled with intriguing matchups that can shake up the landscapes of their respective divisions.
In the featured bout, Waldo Cortes Acosta takes on Derrick Lewis. Cortes Acosta is surging through the Heavyweight division, and with a victory on January 24th, he could very well be next in line for a title.
On the other side, Derrick Lewis is looking at one last pursuit of the title. The all-time knockout leader is coming off a 30-second knockout, and if he's able to find the finishing shot against Cortes Acosta, to the shock of all, with his star power, he may be able to fight for gold.
In the Featherweight division, Arnold Allen takes on Jean Silva.
This is a crucial fight for both fighters. With a win, a title shot is not far-fetched, but with a loss, one of these fighters will move to the back of the line in a deep division.
Arnold Allen has only lost to Max Holloway and Movsar Evloev, while Jean Silva, outside of his recent loss to Diego Lopes, is undefeated in the UFC.
This fight will likely be a war, and a highlight knockout is definitely in the cards.
In the Bantamweight division, Umar Nurmagomedov looks to re-insert himself into a title fight against Deiveson Figueiredo.
Following his close title loss to Merab Dvalishvili, Nurmagomedov bounced back with an impressive victory over Mario Bautista. With a victory, Nurmagomedov will likely be next for a title shot.
On the other side, if Figueiredo looks to continue his quest towards becoming a double champion, the former flyweight king will need the upset victory over Nurmagomedov.
Entering the contest as the heavy underdog, if Figueiredo wins, the title picture at 135 pounds suddenly becomes very crowded.
Fans are in for a treat for UFC 324, and if you enjoyed this breakdown, subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates on all things MMA.
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