UFC 324 roundtable: Is Paramount era kicking off with a dud?

UFC 324 roundtable: Is Paramount era kicking off with a dud?

MMA Fighting general

Key Points:

  • UFC 324, the first numbered UFC event of 2026 and the start of the UFC-Paramount partnership, features an exciting main event and a strong undercard but lacks undisputed title fights, partly due to the postponement of Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes.
  • MMA Fighting panelists generally view UFC 324 as a relatively strong January card compared to recent years, highlighting the presence of 13 ranked fighters and several potential title contenders despite some structural unevenness typical of early-year events.
  • The main event between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett for the interim lightweight title is unlikely to produce a definitive No. 1 lightweight, as Ilia Topuria remains the undisputed champion and Islam Makhachev