UFC 324 tonight: the Gaethje–Pimblett main event doubles as a turning point for how fans watch UFC

UFC 324 isn’t just “another big card.” It’s the first numbered event in years that feels like a stress test for the sport’s next era: a lightweight interim title fight headlined by Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett, plus a lineup designed to keep momentum high across divisions. But the biggest change hits viewers before the first punch lands—the way the event is being delivered. Instead of the familiar pay-per-view routine, fans are adjusting to a new, all-in-one subscription stream, with start times and access rules that look different depending on where you live.

A new viewing model collides with a high-stakes lightweight shake-up

The immediate consequence is practical: some fans are discovering at the last minute that they don’t need a one-night pay-per-view purchase, while others are realizing their usual fight-night setup won’t work. That confusion is amplified by the card’s headline story. Gaethje is a proven chaos engine with championship history; Pimblett is the popularity magnet who has climbed into serious contention. An interim belt on the line turns the outcome into more than bragging rights—it reshapes the next title picture at 155.

For Pimblett, this is the night that either validates the hype at elite level or exposes a ceiling. For Gaethje, it’s a chance to slam the door on a surging challenger and force his way back to the front of the line.

Start time: what time does UFC 324 begin tonight?

UFC 324 takes place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, January 24, 2026.

Here’s the working schedule in Eastern Time (times can shift slightly based on fight length):

• Preshow: 5:00 p.m. ET

• Early prelims: 5:30 p.m. ET

• Prelims: 7:00 p.m. ET

• Main card: 9:00 p.m. ET

To help international viewers planning their night, here are the main card conversions:

• Toronto (ET): 9:00 p.m. Saturday

• London (GMT): 2:00 a.m. Sunday

• Cairo (EET): 4:00 a.m. Sunday

The main event walkouts depend on how long earlier fights run, but the headline bout is expected in the late portion of the main card window.

UFC 324 fight card: the matchups driving the night

The top of the card is built around urgency—ranked names, stylistic collisions, and at least one fight that could become an instant replay staple.

Main event (Interim Lightweight Title):

• Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett

Co-main and other featured bouts:

• Sean O’Malley vs. Song Yadong

• Derrick Lewis vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta

• Rose Namajunas vs. Natalia Silva

• Arnold Allen vs. Jean Silva

Even without a long list of title fights, the structure is clear: the UFC is stacking recognizable talent so the broadcast never goes quiet, then letting the main event carry the narrative weight.

How to watch UFC 324

In the U.S., UFC 324 is being carried exclusively on a major subscription streaming service, with the full event (early prelims through main card) in one place and no separate pay-per-view fee required beyond the subscription.

A few practical notes for anyone scrambling “how to watch” at the last second:

• If you’re used to buying numbered events as one-off purchases, the process is different tonight—access is tied to an active subscription.

• If you’re watching outside the U.S., availability and pricing can vary by region, so the safest move is to use your local in-app search for “UFC 324” and confirm the live tile appears before the prelims begin.

• If you’re hosting, test playback early—big cards bring login issues, device limits, and buffering complaints that always seem to peak right at main-card time.

UFC 324 is a big night for the lightweight division, but it’s also a big night for the UFC’s distribution future. By the time Gaethje and Pimblett touch gloves, the sport will have learned something just as important as the result: whether fans will follow the fights as easily as the fights follow the fans.