UFC 324 at the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Las Vegas, was the UFC’s first pay-per-view event of 2026, marking the first event under the new network relationship between Paramount and the UFC.
The event ended the recent trend of a title fight in both the main and co-main events, as the Harrison and Nunes fight was postponed after Kayla Harrison withdrew due to injury. Two further fights were postponed on the day of the event.
There were 11 fights on the card. Six went the distance, all with unanimous point victories. With four stoppages, including one retirement.
TOP PERFORMER: JUSTIN GAETHJE
The veteran of 32 MMA fights stepped into the Octagon as an underdog against the much hyped Paddy Pimblett for the interim lightweight title.
Justin told everyone he would walk forward and break Paddy’s will. However, he didn’t exactly break Paddy’s will as the Liverpudlian showed heart and a great chin. But Gaethje broke everything else with his all-action walk-forward style and unique brand of violence.
Gaethje dropped Paddy several times and was close to the stoppage a few times, but for Paddy’s heart. However, it was a vintage performance from Gaethje, who lost only one round to claim the title and prove there are levels to this in a dominant win.
TOP PERFORMER 2: WALDO CORTES-ACOSTA
This Dominican Rep heavyweight has had a rapid rise in the UFC over the past year or so, with five fights in 2025, and a record of 4 wins and 1 defeat, including two first-round finishes in November, which put him in this position for the biggest fight of his UFC career.
The Black Beat Derrick Lewis, a veteran of 43 MMA fights, was still no joke, with knockout power in both hands and holds the record for most KO victories in the UFC with 16.
However, Father Time will forever be undefeated as Waldo used his patience and superior movement to evade Lewis, use kicks, then connect with his shots, to send a visibly troubled Lewis to the canvas. followed with shots on the ground, to stop the fight in round two.
TOP PERFORMER 3: TY MILLER
Making his UFC debut in the early prelims, Miller brought a six-fight undefeated record into the UFC to be tested by Adam Fugitt, a man who has won titles in three organisations.
Miller, who had gained a UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series just five months prior, was in no mood to play around as he went to work in the first round, throwing hands.
Both fighters went back and forth in an interesting first round. However, in the last seconds, Miller connected with a lovely right cross that sent Fugitt to the canvas, then finished it with two quick, heavy shots on the ground for a perfect debut victory.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Josh Hokit produced one of the most dominant first-round displays you could see as he pummelled Denzel Freeman for five minutes, picking his shots on feet and adding some ground and pound blows. He literally spanked him and forced a retirement/stoppage at the end of the round.
Alex Perez got a much-needed first-round stoppage victory over Charles Johnson, as he came into the fight with one win in his last six. The one-time flyweight title challenger caught Johnson with a lovely left hook, which sent Johnson down and almost face-planting to the canvas. As he tried to get up, his feet betrayed him, forcing the ref to stop it.
