The Paramount+ Era Begins with a Bang
Welcome to 2026, fight fans! The UFC is kicking off the new year—and a massive new broadcast partnership with Paramount+—by dropping a nuclear bomb of a main event at the T-Mobile Arena. UFC 324 isn’t just another card; it’s the moment the lightweight division finally clears up its logjam. With undisputed champion Ilia Topuria sidelined for personal reasons, the brass has booked an Interim Lightweight Title fight that sounds like it was generated in a video game: Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett vs. Justin “The Highlight” Gaethje.
If you’re reading this on MMAAILM.EE, you know we don’t sugarcoat things. This matchup is pure chaos. On one side, you have Liverpool’s loudest mouth who backed up every word by stopping Michael Chandler at UFC 314. On the other, you have the most violent man in the history of the 155-pound division, fresh off a gritty decision win over Rafael Fiziev. Saturday, January 24, isn’t just a fight; it’s a collision of timelines.
The Matchup: Chin Checks vs. Jiu-Jitsu Wizardry
Let’s strip away the hype and look at the mechanics. This fight comes down to one question: Can Paddy Pimblett force a grappling exchange before Justin Gaethje turns his lead leg into hamburger meat?
Justin Gaethje (26-5) enters this bout at 37 years old, but don’t let the age fool you. The man is still a heat-seeking missile. His ability to create car crashes in the pocket is legendary. Against a fighter like Pimblett, who historically keeps his chin dangerously high in striking exchanges, Gaethje’s left hook and overhand right are death sentences. If this stays standing for more than three minutes, the Scouser is in deep trouble.
Paddy Pimblett (23-3, 7-0 UFC) has silenced critics time and again. His TKO of Chandler proved he has power, but his path to victory here is clearly on the mat. Gaethje is an NCAA Division I All-American wrestler, yet he rarely uses it offensively and has been susceptible to submissions in chaotic scrambles (see: Oliveira, Nurmagomedov). Paddy’s transition game is elite. He needs to eat a shot to give a shot, close the distance, and backpack Gaethje. If he takes the back, the fight is over.
Key Stats to Watch
- Striking Defense: Gaethje absorbs significant damage (7.5+ sig strikes/min) but dishes it out harder. Paddy absorbs less on paper but reacts poorly to leg kicks.
- Submissions: Pimblett has a 100% finish rate in the UFC when the fight hits the floor. Gaethje has zero submission wins in the UFC.
- Momentum: Paddy is riding a 7-fight UFC win streak. Gaethje is 1-1 in his last two (Win vs Fiziev, Loss vs Holloway).
Fighter History: How We Got Here
It’s been a wild ride for both men. Remember when people said Pimblett was just a hype train? That derailed when he flattened King Green and then shocked the world by finishing Michael Chandler last April. He’s not just a personality anymore; he’s a legitimate contender who grew into his frame and fixed his cardio issues.
Gaethje, meanwhile, has been the gatekeeper to the gold for half a decade. After that devastating KO loss to Max Holloway at UFC 300, many wrote him off. But his bounce-back performance against Fiziev at UFC 313 showed he still has the dog in him. He refused to let the younger generation push him out. Now, fighting for an Interim belt again, he knows this is likely his last ride at the top level.
The “Hot Take” Prediction
Most analysts are playing it safe. They’ll tell you Gaethje knocks him out early or Paddy subs him late. Boring. I’m going to give you the MMAAILM.EE hot take.
Prediction: Paddy Pimblett by Round 2 Submission (Rear Naked Choke)
Here is the controversy: I believe Justin Gaethje drops Paddy in the first round. It will look like the end. The T-Mobile Arena will erupt. But Paddy has a zombie-like recovery ability. He will survive the onslaught, and as Gaethje over-commits to the finish in the second, Paddy will pull guard or snatch a single leg during a scramble. Gaethje’s submission defense has always been his Achilles’ heel when he’s tired or frantic. Paddy takes the back, sinks the hooks, and shocks the world to become the Interim UFC Lightweight Champion.
UFC 324: Fight Card & Viewing Details
Don’t miss a second of the action. This is the first-ever UFC event streaming exclusively on the new platform.
- Event: UFC 324: Gaethje vs. Pimblett
- Date: Saturday, January 24, 2026
- Venue: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV
- Broadcast: Paramount+ (Main Card at 9 PM ET / 6 PM PT)
Make sure to check back with us at MMAAILM.EE during fight week for the official weigh-in results and last-minute betting line movements. The Paramount+ era is here, and it’s starting with violence.
