UFC

How to watch Gaethje vs Pimblett at UFC 324: who will be Topuria’s next rival?

The lowdown on how watch UFC 324, headlined by Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett’s bout for the interim lightweight title.

X: @UFC

AS USA William Allen

Update: Jan 23rd, 2026 11:44 EST

In the UFC’s first event of the year, Ilia Topuria is set to find out the identity of his next challenger. At UFC 324 in Las Vegas, the U.S.’s Justin Gaethje and Britain’s Paddy Pimblett face off for the interim lightweight championship - and, it seems, the chance to fight for the outright title against Topuria later this year.

Gaethje has already held an interim lightweight belt, and twice contested the outright crown, losing on both occasions. Meanwhile, Pimblett - Topuria’s archrival - is yet to lose a single fight in the UFC.

Not a bad way to kick off the year 👊 pic.twitter.com/nnntwTqHF0
— UFC (@ufc) January 23, 2026

Topuria set for spring-summer UFC comeback

Topuria, who has taken a break from UFC to deal with personal issues, said on X last week that he plans to return to the Octagon between April and June this year, to fight the winner of Gaethje vs Pimblett.

The Hispano-Georgian has been the UFC’s lightweight champion since claiming the belt in his most recent fight - a devastating victory over Brazil’s Charles Oliveira last June. Amid Topuria’s extended absence, UFC has opted to hold an interim title bout - and Pimblett has tipped the promotion to strip the 29-year-old of his championship if he doesn’t return by the summer.

“If Ilia is not back by June-July, I think I’ll become undisputed,” Pimblett told an interview with the BBC ahead of UFC 324, as he mapped out victory over Gaethje this weekend. “In an ideal world, I beat Justin. Then I beat Ilia for the undisputed title, and then before the end of the year defend it against someone.”

UFC kicks off Paramount era

UFC 324 also marks the promotion’s debut under its new broadcast deal with Paramount. As part of the seven‑year, $7.7 billion partnership, which kicked off this month, numbered events will no longer be pay‑per‑view, and start times have been moved one hour earlier.

What time is Gaethje vs Pimblett at UFC 324?

Held at T-Mobile Arena, UFC 324 takes place tomorrow, Saturday January 24, 2026. Early prelims begin at 5:00 p.m. ET/2:00 p.m. PT, prelims at 7:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. PT, and the main card - featuring Gaethe vs Pimblett - is dueto start at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

How to watch Gaethje vs Pimblett in the U.S.

UFC 324 will be available to stream on Paramount+, and will available to all subscribers to the platform at no extra cost. Viewers in the U.S. can sign up to Paramount+ Essential for $8.99/month or $89.99/year, while Paramount+ Premium costs $13.99/month or $139.99/year.

Gaethje vs Pimblett - UFC 324 fight card in full:

Main card

Justin Gaethje vs Paddy Pimblett: UFC interim lightweight title
Kayla Harrison vs Amanda Nunes: UFC bantamweight title
Sean O’Malley vs Song Yadong: bantamweight
Waldo Cortés‑Acosta vs Derrick Lewis: heavyweight
Arnold Allen vs Jean Silva: featherweight

Preliminary card

Natalia Silva vs Rose Namajunas: strawweight
Umar Nurmagomedov vs Deiveson Figueiredo: bantamweight
Ateba Gautier vs Andrey Pulyaev: middleweight
Nikita Krylov vs Modestas Bukauskas: light heavyweight

Early prelims

Carlos Pérez 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

Gaethje vs Pimblett: who’s the favorite?

Although Pimblett is currently one place lower in the UFC’s lightweight world rankings - he is fifth, while Gaethje is fourth - the Briton is the bookmakers’ frontrunner for victory in Nevada this weekend. The 31-year-old has moneyline odds ranging from -230 to -240, per betting information compiled by Oddschecker. Gaethje, meanwhile, is rated at +184 to +200.