Drake RiggsUncrownedThu, November 27, 2025 at 11:10 PM UTC·4 min readKayla Harrison will officially welcome Amanda Nunes back to the Octagon to commemorate the UFC's launch of its new era. The reigning UFC women's bantamweight champion is slated to make the first defense of her belt atop the promotion's debut show with new broadcast partner Paramount, UFC 324 on Jan. 24, taking on the returning legend Nunes inside Las Vegas' T-Mobile Arena.
In the co-main event, for the interim lightweight title, Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett are set to collide in one of the most unexpected — and undeniably compelling — fights to start 2026.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementUFC CEO Dana White announced the matchups during the halftime show of the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Day showdown. That elevated the announcement into a full-on spectacle, with the promotion gearing up for its Paramount era in the new year; UFC inked a seven-year, $7.7 billion broadcast deal with Paramount and CBS this past August following a six-year partnership with ESPN.
A two-time Olympic gold medalist in judo and former multi-time PFL champion, Harrison (19-1) bulldozed her way through nearly every opponent placed in front of her before her high-profile jump to the UFC. Her promotional debut at UFC 300 — a suffocating, statement-making win over former champion Holly Holm — immediately validated the years of hype. Now, with the 135-pound division hers to command, she stands on the doorstep of the challenge she’s been chasing since day one: Her former teammate at American Top Team, the all-time great "Lionness."
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementNunes (23-5) is generally considered one of the greatest female fighters in MMA history — if not the greatest. The longtime two-division queen walked away from the sport after dismantling Irene Aldana in 2023, closing the book on one of the most dominant runs in MMA history. But her shadow never left the division. Every rising contender, every would-be champion, inevitably invited the same question: “How would they fare against Amanda?” As Harrison surged, the specter of Nunes’ reign lingered. Now the new champion gets her chance to take one more step of her own toward the greatness she's long sought.
For Gaethje (26-5), the opportunity marks yet another high-stakes chapter in a career defined by chaos and consequence. Already a former UFC interim lightweight champion, Gaethje has spent years punishing the division’s elite and carving out a legacy as one of the most violent and entertaining fighters the sport has ever seen. After his knockout loss to Max Holloway at UFC 300 — a stunning instant classic buzzer-beater knockout — Gaethje’s future seemed uncertain. He went as far as to tease retirement had he not received a title opportunity next. But the 37-year-old has never been one to drift quietly; UFC 324 brings him right back into the fire, exactly where he thrives.
On the other hand, Pimblett (23-3) jumps to an interim title fight while simultaneously targeting his rival, UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria. The polarizing Brit has long been a magnet for hype, scrutiny and fanfare, but his meeting with Gaethje marks the moment the conversation shifts from potential to proof. After pulling off a measured showing against Tony Ferguson and domination of Michael Chandler, Pimblett finds himself staring down his biggest test yet.
The first UFC event of 2026 took further shape with the announcement of several additional matchups.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAt bantamweight, former champion Sean O'Malley (18-3, 1 NC) returns to try and snap his two-fight losing skid against China's Song Yadong (22-8-1, 1 NC). Arnold Allen (20-3) vs. Jean Silva (16-3), which was first reported by MMA Fighting, will also take place, continuing to sort out the stacked featherweight ranks.
O'Malley isn't the only former champion returning, as one-time flyweight titleholder Alexa Grasso (16-5-1) will face former two-time strawweight champion Rose Namajunas (14-7).
The heavyweights will also be in action when Waldo Cortes-Acosta (16-2) battles Derrick Lewis (29-12-0, 1 NC).
With UFC 324's main bouts confirmed, expect more fights to be announced in the coming weeks. The current lineup:
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWomen's bantamweight championship: Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes
Interim lightweight championship: Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett
Bantamweight: Sean O'Malley vs. Song Yadong
Featherweight: Arnold Allen vs. Jean Silva
Women's flyweight: Alexa Grasso vs. Rose Namajunas
Heavyweight: Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. Derrick Lewis
