This weekend marks the exciting start of the UFC's first Pay-Per-View event of the year, featuring the British sensation Paddy Pimblett as he prepares to take on Justin Gaethje in what promises to be a thrilling showdown.
In this match, they will compete for the interim lightweight championship title, especially since the current champion, Ilia Topuria, has announced he will be stepping back from the ring for an indefinite period due to personal matters.
Pimblett enters this bout riding high on the momentum of his most significant victory yet, having secured a knockout against Michael Chandler in the third round. His eyes are firmly set on a potential showdown with Topuria should he emerge victorious in Las Vegas.
UFC 324: Gaethje vs. Pimblett is scheduled for Sunday, January 25, at 1 PM AEDT. Fans can order the event through Main Event on Kayo Sports (https://mainevent.kayosports.com.au/ufc/ufc-324?pg=default&extcamp=fsaeditoriallinkmma-edt-fsp-lnk-awr-grc-mma-kyo&channel=fsa&campaign=fsacontra&voucher=).
Earlier today, during the official weigh-in, Pimblett and Gaethje faced off one last time before their highly anticipated fight. In a moment that intensified the atmosphere, Pimblett asked Gaethje how his weight cut had gone. When Gaethje replied that it was "great," Pimblett candidly remarked that it didn’t seem that way. They exchanged a handshake, but Gaethje advised Pimblett not to focus on anything other than the fight itself.
In a spirited pre-fight interview, Pimblett conveyed his determination to the crowd at the T-Mobile Arena, saying, "As I’ve been saying this whole time, Justin Gaethje is a legend, and I’m going to come out and finish him. You know that I’m going to add another legend to my resume and bring this interim title back home to Liverpool, England."
On the other hand, Gaethje expressed a more reflective tone, stating, "This is the biggest fight of my life. I cannot wait to carry the stars and stripes on my back and represent this country like it should be represented."
The co-main event features former bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley, who is looking to inch closer to another title shot as he faces Song Yadong. The main card also includes formidable fighters like Derrick Lewis, Jean Silva, and Deiveson Figueiredo, along with top contenders Umar Nurmagomedov and Natalia Silva, creating a stacked lineup for this event.
Now, turning to the action from earlier tonight, Alex Perez made headlines with a powerful performance against Charles Johnson in their flyweight match. After delivering a devastating left hook that sent Johnson crashing to the canvas, Johnson surprisingly crawled over to Perez, who was celebrating by climbing the cage, and attempted to grapple with him despite the referee already having called off the fight. Commentators noted that Johnson seemed unaware that the contest had ended, with Jon Anik remarking on the unusual scene.
Joe Rogan weighed in on the stoppage, agreeing that it was the right call, as things could have escalated further had the fight continued. He noted, "If he hadn’t stopped it, Perez would have landed big bombs."
The highly anticipated clash between Gaethje and Pimblett will unfold on Sunday, January 25, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, with the main card kicking off at 1 PM AEDT. The fighters are expected to make their entrances at approximately 3:25 PM AEDT, although these times may change.
For those in Australia wanting to catch all the excitement, UFC 324 will be available to watch live on Main Event via Kayo Sports (https://mainevent.kayosports.com.au/ufc/ufc-324?pg=default&extcamp=fsaeditoriallinkmma-edt-fsp-lnk-awr-grc-mma-kyo&channel=fsa&campaign=fsacontra&voucher=). Additionally, Foxsports.com.au will provide a live blog of the event.
Here’s how the fight card shapes up:
Main Card
- Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett (Lightweight)
- 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)
Prelims
- Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Deiveson Figueiredo (Bantamweight)
- Ateba Gautier vs. Andrey Pulyaev (Middleweight)
- Nikita Krylov vs. Modestas Bukauskas (Light Heavyweight)
- Alex Perez vs. Charles Johnson (Flyweight)
Early Prelims
- Michael Johnson vs. Alexander Hernandez (Lightweight)
- Josh Hokit vs. Denzel Freeman (Heavyweight)
- Adam Fugitt vs. Ty Miller (Welterweight)
It’s important to note that Cameron Smotherman was initially scheduled to fight Ricky Turcios in a bantamweight bout, but that matchup was canceled after Smotherman fainted moments after weighing in (https://www.foxsports.com.au/ufc/ufc-324-fighter-cameron-smotherman-collapses-after-weight-cut-video-cancelled-fight-against-ricky-turcios-latest-news/news-story/cbc4f52b5d3c8340deb11f8e13536b65).
Stay tuned for live updates from UFC 324 in our blog below! If you're having trouble viewing them, click here (https://go.arena.im/live/fox-sports-australia/mloiWxc?v=2)!
Are you excited about the upcoming fight? Do you think Pimblett has what it takes to dethrone Gaethje? Share your thoughts below!
