At the beginning of 2026 is excitement and anticipation for a new era. The UFC and Paramount are starting a new partnership with a $7.7 billion 7-year deal. Correlate that the first event is a blockbuster. UFC 324 features five bouts on the main card, with every combatant top-10 ranked. The Main Event is the lightweight interim title bout between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett.
Also, in the bantamweight class is a matchup between Sean O’Malley and Song Yadong. Waldo Cortes Acosta will face Derrick Lewis in a heavyweight showdown. In the women’s flyweight division is a matchup between Natalia Silva and Rose Namajunas. Finally, Arnold Allen meets Jean Silva in a featherweight matchup.
Betting traffic opened heavy and intense. The phenomenal card and new partnership with Paramount have fans and gamblers eager for the new UFC season.
Get the latest UFC news, check out the current betting lines for the upcoming events, and don’t miss the MMA action, all with the best odds at BookMaker!
UFC 324: Gaethje vs. Pimblett Betting at Bookmaker
T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV, is the venue for UFC 324 on Saturday, January 24, 2026, at 9 p.m. ET with coverage on Paramount+.
The main event is the lightweight interim title bout between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett. The loaded card ensures a packed house at T-Mobile Arena, home of the NHL Vegas Golden Knights. Gaethje and Pimblett are two major UFC brands. The big names and big stakes have created plenty of betting interest.
UFC 324 Main Card Matchups and Odds
Lightweight Interim Title Bout
#4 Justin Gaethje +186 vs. #5 Paddy Pimblett -245
Justin Gaethje has a career record of 26-5. In comparison, Paddy Pimblett stands at 23-3 for his career.
Previously, Justin Gaethje was the UFC interim lightweight champion. Gaethje is a former UFC BMF titleholder. Of major concern is that Gaethje lost three of his most recent seven bouts. But he is coming off a unanimous decision win over Rafael Fiziev on March 8, 2025, in Las Vegas.
On April 13, 2024, Gaethje was beaten by Max Holloway in a 5th-round knockout. That bout snapped 2-fight winning streak. As a result of the loss, Gaethje lost the UFC BMF title.
Paddy Pimblett is a former Cage Warriors featherweight champion. He is riding a 9-bout winning streak.
Last time out, Pimblett won a 3rd-round TKO against Michael Chandler in Miami, FL, on April 12, 2025.
On July 27, 2024, Pimblett won a 1st-round technical submission against King Green in Manchester, England.
And then on December 16, 2023, Pimblett won a unanimous decision against Tony Ferguson in Las Vegas, NV.
Bantamweight Bout
#3 Sean O’Malley -215 vs. #5 Song Yadong +164
Overall, Sean O’Malley has a career record of 18-3. Song Yadong will enter the octagon with a career mark of 22-8-1 with 1 NC.
Previously, Sean O’Malley was the UFC bantamweight champion. He is coming off two bantamweight championship fight losses.
First, on September 14, 2024, O’Malley lost a unanimous decision to Merab Dvalishvili in Las Vegas, NV. Next, on June 7, 2025, O’Malley lost a 3rd-round submission against Dvalishvili in Newark, NJ.
Before the two losses, O’Malley won the UFC bantamweight title over Aljamain Sterling in a 2nd-round TKO on August 19, 2023, in Boston, MA.
Next, he defended his title belt in a unanimous decision win over Marlon Vera on March 9, 2024, in Miami, FL.
Song Yadong has won three of his last four bouts.
Last time out, Yadong won a 3rd-round TKO against Henry Cejudo in Seattle, WA.
Previously, Yadong lost a unanimous decision against Petr Yan on March 9, 2024, in Miami, FL. That loss ended a 3-bout winning streak.
Heavyweight Bout
#5 Waldo Cortes Acosta -310 vs. #8 Derrick Lewis +230
Waldo Cortes Acosta has a career record of 16-2. In comparison, Derrick Lewis is 29-12 with 1 NC.
Waldo Cortes Acosta won seven of his last eight bouts, including his last two bouts.
Derrick Lewis holds the record for the most knockouts in UFC history (16). He won three of his last four bouts, including the last two.
Women’s Flyweight Bout
#2 Natalia Silva -440 vs. #6 Rose Namajunas +310
In sum, Natalia Sivla has a career record of 19-5-1. Rose Namajunas is 15-7 for her career.
Featherweight Bout
#6 Arnold Allen +230 vs. #10 Jean Silva -310
Arnold Allen has a career mark of 20-3. In comparison, Jean Silva stands at 16-3 for his career.
UFC 324: Gaethje vs. Pimblett Best Bets
In the main event, Justin Gaethje is a live dog with plenty of potential value. He has the big-fight resume of a former champion.
Meanwhile, Song Yadong is getting an excellent price against the slumping Sean O’Malley.
UFC 324 Main Pick: Justin Gaethje and Song Yadong
UFC 324 Fighter Prop Pick: Justin Gaethje to Win by Knockout or Submission
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