Justin Gaethje captured the interim UFC lightweight championship and now secures a title unification bout with Ilia Topuria. Gaethje accomplished this after earning a unanimous decision win over Paddy Pimblett in a thrilling main event. The fight headlined UFC 324, which ushered in a new era for the promotion.
According to Dana White, the event surpassed Paramount’s expectations and represented a strong start to their new broadcast rights deal.
The main card opened with a series of promo packages shining a light on the promotion’s rich history. Bruce Buffer then formally welcomed viewers as the UFC entered its new era on Paramount+.
UFC 324 Results
Early Prelims
Ty Miller def. Adam Fugitt by 1st round TKO (170 lbs)
Josh Hokit def. Denzel Freeman by 1st round TKO (265 lbs)
Although there were only two fights on the early prelims, Hokit capitalized on his post-fight interview. He received plenty of attention, as his interview turned into a pro wrestling-inspired callout for his next fight.
Prelims
Alex Perez def. Charles Johnson by 1st round TKO (Catchweight – 128.5 lbs)
Nikita Krylov def. Modestas Bukauskas by 3rd round knockout (205 lbs)
Ateba Gautier def. Andrey Pulyaev by unanimous decision (185 lbs)
Umar Nurmagomedov def. Deiveson Figueiredo by unanimous decision (Catchweight – 138.5 lbs)
The prelim headliner between Nurmagomedov and Figueiredo was a major focal point. Specifically, ‘Young Eagle’ had a chance to make a strong case for a bantamweight title shot. However, the fight and his performance were not met with positive reviews, with many fans feeling he didn’t do enough.
Main Card
Jean Silva def. Arnold Allen by unanimous decision (145 lbs)
Natalia Silva def. Rose Namajunas by unanimous decision (125 lbs)
Waldo Cortes-Acosta def. Derrick Lewis by 2nd round TKO (265 lbs)
Sean O’Malley def. Song Yadong by unanimous decision (135 lbs)
Justin Gaethje def. Paddy Pimblett by unanimous decision – Interim Lightweight Championship (155 lbs)
Several notable takeaways emerged from the main card. Natalia Silva, who stepped in on short notice and defeated Namajunas, likely secured a title shot against Valentina Shevchenko.
O’Malley notably rebounded in a major way, snapping his two-fight losing skid to get back into the bantamweight title picture. Given that he already holds a victory over bantamweight champion Petr Yan, ‘Suga’ could possibly be fast-tracked.
Gaethje, meanwhile, proved that he is still far from done inside the octagon. He absorbed plenty of significant strikes from Pimblett, yet still maintained the aggressive pace that made him a fan favorite.
During the UFC 324 post-fight press conference, Gaethje expressed his desire to compete at the White House event. Given Topuria’s timetable for his return, a title unification bout at the historic event could be a possibility.
Which UFC Fighters Were Awarded Bonuses?
Dana White revealed the recipients of the $100, 000 post-fight bonuses under the promotion’s new structure.
Fight of the Night was awarded to the main event between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett, with both earning $100, 000. For the Performance of the Night bonus, White awarded two fighters $100, 000, with Josh Hokit and Ty Miller each earning the bonus for their respective performances.
In addition, a $25, 000 bonus was issued to every fighter who won their fight by stoppage. However, Alex Perez was the lone exception because he missed weight for his bout with Charles Johnson.
UFC 324: Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett Results, Bonus Winners