Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett are headlining the first UFC event of 2026 this weekend.
The top-ranked lightweight stars are set to meet in the main event of UFC 324 with the interim lightweight title on the line.
7
7
Gaethje proved he could still mix it up at the top when he defeated Rafael Fiziev last March, having been brutally knocked out by Max Holloway at UFC 300.
The American is hoping to reclaim the interim strap at 155lbs that he previously held for five months in 2020.
He lost his opportunity to secure the division's undisputed belt against Khabib Nurmagomedov in the same year - the Russian legend's last ever fight.
Pimblett, meanwhile, has been calling for his chance to challenge for gold at lightweight since he beat up Michael Chandler in Miami nine months ago.
Should the Liverpudlian overcome Gaethje, he may finally get the opportunity to fight his long-term, bitter rival and UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria.
Topuria is currently taking a break from the sport due to a personal matter.
This will provide Pimblett and Gaethje with extra motivation heading into their fight, as they will know there is a chance they could get elevated to undisputed status if Topuria vacates his belt.
The pair are set to kick off an exciting 2026 schedule in Dana White's promotion, with UFC White House on the horizon and the Paramount+ deal already underway.
Gaethje vs Pimblett: Date and how to watch
Gaethje vs Pimblett will take place on Saturday, January 24, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
All of the action from UFC 324 will be streaming on Paramount+ in the US, which fans can access as part of their regular Paramount+ subscription.
7
7
Fans in the UK and Ireland will be able to watch the show live on TNT Sports Box Office.
UFC 324 is available to purchase on TNT Sports Box Office for £19.99 in the UK on discovery+, EE TV, Prime Video, Sky and Virgin Media TV.
You do not need to be a TNT Sports subscriber to buy the event.
sport.com will also be providing live updates throughout the event.
Gaethje vs Pimblett: Timings
The early prelims will kick off at 10pm GMT (5pm ET), with the regular prelims from 12am GMT on Sunday (7pm ET on Saturday).
The main card then starts at an all-new time of 2am GMT on Sunday (9pm ET).
7
7
You can expect Gaethje and Pimblett to make their walks to the octagon after 4am GMT (11pm ET), depending on other results on the card.
Gaethje vs Pimblett: Full card
Subject to change
Main card
- MAIN EVENT: Justin Gaethje vs Paddy Pimblett - for interim Lightweight Championship
- CO-MAIN EVENT: Sean O'Malley vs Song Yadong - Bantamweight
- Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs Derrick Lewis - Heavyweight
- Natalia Silva vs Rose Namajunas - Women's Flyweight
- Arnold Allen vs Jean Silva - Featherweight
Preliminary card
- Umar Nurmagomedov vs Deiveson Figueiredo - Bantamweight
- Ateba Gautier vs Andrey Pulyaev - Middleweight
- Nikita Krylov vs Modestas Bukauskas - Light heavyweight
Early preliminary card
- Alex Perez vs Charles Johnson - Flyweight
- Michael Johnson vs Alexander Hernandez - Lightweight
- Josh Hokit vs Denzel Freeman - Heavyweight
- Ricky Turcios vs Cameron Smotherman - Bantamweight
- Adam Fugitt vs Ty Miller - Welterweight
UFC schedule
UFC 325 - February 1, Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, Australia
- Alexander Volkanovski (c) vs Diego Lopes 2 - for UFC Featherweight Championship
- Dan Hooker vs Benoit Saint Denis - Lightweight
- Rafael Fiziev vs Mauricio Ruffy - Lightweight
- Tai Tuivasa vs Tallison Teixeira - Heavyweight
- Jonathan Micallef vs Oban Elliot - Welterweight
UFC Fight Night 266 - February 7, UFC Apex, Las Vegas
- Mario Bautista vs Vinicius Oliveira - Bantamweight
- Amir Albazi vs Kyoji Horiguchi - Flyweight
- Michal Oleksiejczuk vs Marc-Andre Barriault - Middleweight
- Ryan Spann vs Rizvan Kuniev - Heavyweight
- Uran Satybaldiev vs Julius Walker - Light Heavyweight
UFC Fight Night 268 - February 21, Toyota Center, Houston
- Sean Strickland vs Anthony Hernandez - Middleweight
- Ode' Osbourne vs Alibi Idiris - Flyweight
- Juliana Miller vs. Carli Judice - Women's Flyweight
- Michel Pereira vs. Zachary Reese - Middleweight
UFC Fight Night 269 - February 28, Arena CDMX. Mexico City
- Brandon Moreno vs Asu Almabayev - Flyweight
- Edgar Chairez vs Felipe Bunes - Flyweight
- Imanol Rodriguez vs Kevin Borjas - Flyweight
- Jose Medina vs Ryan Gandra - Middleweight
UFC 326 - March 7, T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas
- Max Holloway (c) vs Charles Oliveira 2 - Lightweight
- Renato Moicano vs Brian Ortega - Lightweight
- Caio Borralho vs Reinier de Ridder - Middleweight
- Gregory Rodrigues vs Brunno Ferreira - Middleweight
- Cody Garbrandt vs Xiao Long - Bantamweight
Gaethje vs Pimblett: What's been said?
Justin Gaethje
Gaethje has explained why the stakes are so high for his fight with Pimblett.
"I'm very excited for this opportunity," Gaethje said.
“I'd be foolish to think this is the beginning of my career.
"This is my last chance, and this opportunity to finish my career off the way that I want to is everything I could ask for.
"[If I win] I get to fight Ilia [Topuria], and Ilia, right now, is the baddest man in my division—and some consider, across the board.
“What an opportunity to finish this career off exactly how I've fought the whole time. Fought the highest competition – I have fought the best.
“I have not been perfect, and it’s hard for people to understand that…It's impossible to be perfect the entire time."
Gaethje later said at the UFC 324 pre-fight press conference he was 'going to dog walk this English f***' in the Octagon.
7
Paddy Pimblett
With Topuria out, 'The Baddy' believes he could become the undisputed champion without actually having to fight for the belt.
"People keep saying you're probably going to end up like Tom [Aspinall] when you win, it'll get upgraded, because Ilia's not going to be back for at least a year," Pimblett said on Aspinall's YouTube channel.
"They're saying it could get messy, and it could end up being like two years if it gets dragged out and that.
"If he's going to sit out for that long, I would rather him just vacate and stop holding the division up.
"But I do want to fight him, so it's a catch-22. I want to beat Ilia up and show everyone that I can beat him, but at the same time, if he's going to have me waiting like Tom was waiting for Jon [Jones], then no.
"Just vacate, lad, and let the division crack on."
Pimblett is expecting violence in the UFC 324 main event, promising to 'put a beatdown' on Gaethje.
'The Baddy' turned 31 on January 3, but refrained from any birthday celebrations until he fights Gaethje.
"Birthday celebration and world title celebration the same night," Pimblett said.
