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Latest updates as ‘Paddy The Baddy’ takes on Justin Gaethje for the interim lightweight belt – and a shot at bitter rival Ilia Topuria
Alex Pattle Combat Sports Editor Sunday 25 January 2026 02:01 GMT- Bookmark
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CloseUFC 324: Paddy Pimblett predicts knockout of Justin Gaethje
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Tonight, Paddy Pimblett fights for UFC gold for the first time, as the Liverpudlian takes on Justin Gaethje in Las Vegas. But as “Paddy The Baddy” and Gaethje clash at UFC 324, there is more on the line than just the interim lightweight title.
The winner of tonight’s main event should be next for regular champion Ilia Topuria, Pimblett’s bitter rival, who is currently taking a break from MMA for personal reasons. Pimblett could therefore set up one of the biggest fights in the sport, or Gaethje could become a two-time interim champ, after the American held that version of the belt in 2020.
While Gaethje, 37, has twice failed to win the undisputed title and is in the last-chance saloon this year, Pimblett, 31, is a newcomer to lights as bright as these. Yet he has continued to defy his doubters in staying unbeaten in the UFC, and he saw off a former MMA champion last time out by stopping Michael Chandler.
Tonight’s co-main event was due to see all-time great Amanda Nunes emerge from retirement to challenge an old teammate, bantamweight queen Kayla Harrison, but the latter sustained an injury last week. As such, Sean O’Malley vs Song Yadong was pushed up the card, with an allegation of racism feeding into their fight.
Follow live updates and results from UFC 324, from the prelims to the main event, below.
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UFC 324 live
- Paddy Pimblett faces Justin Gaethje for interim lightweight title at UFC 324
- Victory could see Liverpool’s ‘Paddy The Baddy’ face bitter rival Ilia Topuria
- Gaethje, a KO artist and former interim champ, involved in pay dispute
- Main card begins at 2am GMT, main event expected at around 4am GMT
- Event airs live on TNT Sports Box Office in UK, Paramount+ in US
- Sean O’Malley, Umar Nurmagomedov and Britain’s Arnold Allen on undercard
UFC 324 live: Main card up next
The main card is just minutes away, and it begins with our pick for fight of the night: Arnold Allen’s featherweight clash with Jean Silva.
This one, kicking off the main card tonight, is mouthwatering.
Britain’s Allen is fighting for the first time since July 2024, with injury having plagued his promising career in recent years. Here’s hoping (apologies for the British bias) he can get back on track at UFC 324.
Yet he can be lured into a scrap, and Silva loves a scrap. So, this could be very dangerous for Allen... but it could be tricky for Silva as well!
Allen is the better fighter technically, in our book; it’s just a matter of whether he can play to those strengths and not get sucked into a brawl – and whether he can start quickly and doesn’t have any ring rust.
Allen is very well rounded, while Silva will look to keep this one standing, which is where he was knocked out in his last bout, a war with Diego Lopes.
Ipswich’s Arnold Allen (Getty Images)Alex Pattle25 January 2026 02:00UFC 324 live: Umar Nurmagomedov vs Deiveson Figueiredo
Umar Nurmagomedov def. Deiveson Figueiredo via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
A clean sweep for the Russian. Never in doubt.
After the result is declared, the first inductee into the 2026 UFC Hall of Fame is revealed as...
Dominick Cruz! Well deserved for the former two-time bantamweight king.
Alex Pattle25 January 2026 01:56UFC 324 live: Umar Nurmagomedov vs Deiveson Figueiredo
Round three
Figgy is still on the back foot. Again, Umar gets behind his kicks, throwing side kicks to the head and front kicks to the body.
Nurmagomedov takes down the former champion and lands in closed guard. He’s smothering Figgy’s face, while the Brazilian struggles to get his feet on Umar’s hips.
Umar is throwing intermittent punches, and now a short, slashing elbow. He slides into half-guard in a very quick, opportunistic move. Ninety seconds to go.
Now Nurmagomedov slides into side control, but Figueiredo does well to quickly recover closed guard. Umar back into half-guard.
We’ll go to the scorecards. The crowd boos!
Alex Pattle25 January 2026 01:53UFC 324 live: Umar Nurmagomedov vs Deiveson Figueiredo
Round two
Both men switch stances early on, but Figgy’s switches look more like a reaction to Umar’s.
A scramble sees Figueiredo try another guillotine, but he can’t isolate the neck or keep Umar under him. Great defence by the Russian.
A tense phase on the feet now, with both men hesitant to throw. Eventually Umar flicks out a few kicks, going from the body to the head.
More body kicks from Nurmagomedov. Figueiredo, as he often has in the past, is being much too passive.
And just as I write that, the Brazilian lets those powerful hands go in the final 30 seconds of the round! He can’t quiiiite land clean, though, and the buzzer sounds.
Still, that’s what he needs to do!
Alex Pattle25 January 2026 01:47UFC 324 live: Umar Nurmagomedov vs Deiveson Figueiredo
Round one
Nurmagomedov looks HUGE in there compared to Figgy. The Russian sends the former champ stumbling back with a hard teep kick.
Umar is switching stances back and forth, all while pressing forward. Not a ton of connections so far, but the pair stall in a tense clinch, where Umar eventually lands a clean uppercut.
Figueiredo seems pretty hesitant to engage. Umar snatches a single-leg, but Figueiredo defends with a trademark guillotine attempt.
Umar abandons the takedown and escapes the submission attempt. Nurmagomedov’s next takedown is successful, and he lands on top in half-guard.
One minute to go. In the final seconds, Umar is able to sit up and fire off hammer fists! His round for sure.
Alex Pattle25 January 2026 01:41UFC 324 live: Umar Nurmagomedov vs Deiveson Figueiredo
One more prelim to go, and it’s remarkable that Umar Nurmagomedov vs Deiveson Figueiredo is a prelim fight!
That’s a testament to how strong UFC 324 is, in fairness.
Nurmagomedov, a cousin of UFC icon Khabib, is aiming to get back to a bantamweight title shot after losing to then-champion Merab Dvalishvili 12 months ago.
Meanwhile, former flyweight king Figueiredo continues his late-career run at 135lb.
Yet the Brazilian failed to make weight yesterday, tipping the scales at 2.5lb over the limit. As such, he forfeits 20 per cent of his purse to his Russian opponent.
Umar Nurmagomedov (Getty Images)
Deiveson Figueiredo (right) is a former two-time flyweight champion (Getty Images)Alex Pattle25 January 2026 01:31UFC 324 live: Ateba Gautier vs Andrey Pulyaev
Ateba Gautier def. Andrey Pulyaev via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
For the first time tonight, the judges are needed...
Ooh, that 30-27 is so harsh on Pulyaev, who fought well here. Still, nothing wrong with the Gautier win, and he stays unbeaten in the UFC.
But, as predicted by Indy Sport this week, a reality check for fans and pundits getting carried away with Gautier.
Alex Pattle25 January 2026 01:30UFC 324 live: Ateba Gautier vs Andrey Pulyaev
Round three
Pulyaev misses with a winging left hand. Gautier stalks the Russian, while trying to stay light on his feet.
A right straight just about gets through for the Cameroonian. He lets his hands go with a combination, but Pulyaev’s head movement is on point.
A few times, Gautier has caught kicks but let Pulyaev tag him with a jab right after – while he’s still holding the Russian’s leg.
Not a lot to judge this final round on... One minute to go.
Gautier with some mean teep kicks. Pulyaev with some harsh body kicks of his own.
So, Gautier goes the distance for just the second time in his career. Like the first, will it represent a loss? This one is up in the air...
Alex Pattle25 January 2026 01:27UFC 324 live: Ateba Gautier vs Andrey Pulyaev
Round two
Gautier has definitely slowed down. Pulyaev is throwing precise southpaw crosses and jabs, as well as body kicks. He’s doing it all while on the back foot, too.
Still, Gautier gets through with a one-two. Now he lands a right cross that sees Pulyaev stumble to the mat, but it was a balance issue – not a matter of damage.
Pulyaev is breathing out of his mouth, is he slowing down now? Yes! Gautier with a second wind, and he’s mixing in knees with straights and hooks!
Both men are bleeding from the nose. Gautier swipes across Pulyaev’s face with a high kick. One minute to go.
It was a brief second wind from Gautier, in the end. This one is surely level at 19-19, heading into the final frame.
Alex Pattle25 January 2026 01:21UFC 324 live: Ateba Gautier vs Andrey Pulyaev
Round one
Pulyaev stands southpaw and looks to stay calm early. Oh, but he’s dropped by the first punch that Gautier throws!! My word, we told you to look out for Gautier...
Pulyaev manages to stand and survive Gautier’s follow-up punches and a couple of knees to the body, and Pulyaev even lands a couple of decent counters!
Pulyaev, after that early adversity, is managing to slow the pace somewhat. Still, Gautier is trying to keep that pace high, pressing forward incessantly.
Gautier is so much thicker than Pulyaev, who looks wiry in comparison. Nice overhand left from Pulyaev, though, and Gautier just misses with a hook after catching a hook.
Sloppy kick from Gautier, and he slips. More lands from Pulyaev. Now Gautier is slowing down, late in the round. Is that weight counting against him?
The punch stats favour his Russian opponent.
Alex Pattle25 January 2026 01:14Newer1 / 3OlderMore about
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