Dana White has revealed that Justin Gaethje will face Paddy Pimblett in a fight for the interim lightweight title at UFC 324 on January 24th.
The UFC chief announced the news during half-time of the Chiefs-Cowboys’ Thanksgiving game on CBS – revealing the immense card that will take place.
Along with lightweight stars Pimblett and Gaethje, UFC legend Amanda Nunes will make her highly-anticipated return for a title fight against Kayla Harrison, while Sean O’Malley will also feature on the main card, where he will take on Song Yadong.
The stacked card will be the first major UFC event of 2026, which will also be the first of 13 numbered events set to be broadcast on Paramount+, as part of a new deal.
In a statement released on Thursday, White added: ‘(This event) kicks off this incredible partnership with Paramount.
‘I am so excited for UFC fans that our first card has six current and former champions, including the long-awaited return of the greatest female fighter of all time, which is definitely the biggest women’s fight ever’.
UFC chief Dana White made a shock announcement to reveal the stacked UFC 324 card
Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Pimblett will make his return to the cage for an interim title fight
Pimblett will take on American star Justin Gaethje in the main event at the T-Mobile Arena
White also confirmed that, as part of the new deal with Paramount, the main card will take place an hour earlier than in previous events – moving from 10pm (ET) to 9pm.
The announcement comes just hours after lightweight champion Ilia Topuria revealed that he will be taking some time away from the sport to focus on a family matter.
Topuria had been tipped for a fight with either Gaethje or Pimblett – who are both contenders in the lightweight division – before making his announcement.
Taking to X on Thursday afternoon, Topuria wrote: ‘I won’t be fighting in the first quarter of next year. I’m going through a difficult moment in my personal life. I want to focus on my children and resolve this situation as soon as possible.
‘I don’t want to hold up the division. The UFC will make the matchups needed, and as soon as the matters are resolved I’ll let the UFC know I’m ready to begin my return’.
Now, ‘The Highlight’ and ‘The Baddy’ will share the octagon at the T-Mobile Arena in a battle to claim the interim title and set up a fight with Topuria later down the line.
Pimblett’s future had been heavily discussed by UFC fans in recent months, with many keen to see the Liverpudlian back in the octagon amid his current win streak.
The 30-year-old had hinted at a fight with rival Topuria – with whom he has clashed with outside the cage on numerous occasions – but that will have to wait.
While Gaethje is certainly a fan favorite, the hype behind him arguably isn’t as big as it is for Pimblett, given the American’s brutal KO loss to Max Holloway in April 2024.
Pimblett had been tipped to fight Ilia Topuria (left) but the Spaniard announced on Thursday that he will be taking time away from fighting in order to focus on a personal matter
Former double champion Amanda Nunes will return to the octagon for the first time since 2023
Sean O’Malley (right) will also feature on the card in a fight against Song Yadong
Pimblett has not stepped foot inside the cage since his dominant TKO victory over Michael Chandler, while Gaethje has not fought since beating Rafael Fiziev in March.
The likes of Arman Tsarukyan, Charles Oliveira and Max Holloway will all be watching on eagerly, in case they get a title shot against the winner.
Meanwhile, fight fans will be thrilled to see the return of UFC Hall of Famer Amanda Nunes, who will face Kayla Harrison in a women’s bantamweight title bout.
After beating Julianna Pena in June 2023, Nunes announced her retirement from the sport, before double backing on that claim in June this year.
The Brazilian is regarded as one of the best female fighters in UFC history, having become a double champion back in 2018 after defeating Cris Cyborg.
Elsewhere on the card, bantamweight star Sean O’Malley will make his return to the octagon to face Song Yadong, following back-to-back defeats to Merab Dvalishvili.
After a unanimous decision defeat at UFC 306 – which took place at The Sphere in Las Vegas – O’Malley was then submitted in the third round of their bout in June.