UFC 324 live results: Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett
A new era begins for the UFC this weekend as Paramount+ takes over as the UFC’s media partner for at least the next seven years, and it all kicks off with UFC 324 taking place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The main event sees an interim title in the lightweight division on the line as Justin Gaethje takes on Paddy Pimblett. This fight was put together after current UFC Lightweight Champion Ilia Topuria announced he was taking a break from fighting due to personal issues, though he is expected to return within the next few months, likely to face the winner of this bout.
Gaethje is coming off a win in his last fight, while Pimblett is undefeated during his UFC tenure, and on a nine-fight win streak overall.
In the co-main event, former UFC Bantamweight Champion Sean O’Malley looks to get back into the win column against Song Yadong. Also on the main card is a heavyweight slugfest between Waldo Cortes-Acosta and fan favorite Derrick Lewis; a women’s flyweight fight with title shot implications as Natalia Silva battles Rose Namajunas; and a featherweight bout pitting Arnold Allen against Jean Silva.
PRELIMS | 6 PM ET/3 PM PT
> Welterweights- Adam Fugitt (10-5, 2-3 UFC) vs. Ty Miller (6-0 1 NC, 0-0 UFC)
Miller lands a right hand. Fugitt throws a high kick that Miller blocks. Miller is connecting with right hands as one gets through. Fugitt lands a body kick, and then lands another one. They trade inside the pocket as Fugitt lands a pair of body kicks. Miller lands a solid straight right hand. They trade in close range as Miller connects with a flush right hand. Fugitt with a high kick as Miller connects. Miller lands a big combination. Miller lands a solid right hand. They trade inside the pocket and both are bloody. Miller drops Fugitt with a clean right hand and lands from the top, landing an elbow as Fugitt stands. Miller lands two more big right hands. Miller teeing off and drops Fugitt to a knee with a right hand and continues to land and gets the finish at the buzzer! What a finish from Miller!
Fight Result- Ty Miller def. Adam Fugitt by TKO (punches) at 4:59 of Round 1
> Heavyweights- Josh Hokit (7-0, 1-0 UFC) vs. Denzel Freeman (7-1, 1-0 UFC)
Hokit shoots for a takedown right away and is able to get it. Hokit gets the back and has body control as Freeman is attempting to escape to his feet. Hokit with a knee to the thigh of Freeman. They get to their feet as Hokit maintains body control. They break apart. Hokit lands a series of punches with a knee to the body mixed in. Hokit lands a series of uppercuts and Freeman goes to his knees. Hokit with more punches as he looks for neck control. Hokit lands punches from the back. Hokit lands more punches as he spanks Freeman, but they stand. Hokit lands against the fence and Freeman goes for a takedown, but Hokit rolls through to the feet. Hokit lands some punches and Freeman falls down. Hokit with a knee to the body and some more punches as they stand. Freeman runs away and falls to a knee and Mark Smith steps in and stops the fight. A weird finish, but Hokit picks up the win.
Fight Result- Josh Hokit def. Denzel Freeman by TKO (punches) at 4:59 of Round 1
> Flyweights*- #11 Alex Perez (25-10, 7-6 UFC) vs. #13 Charles Johnson (18-7, 7-5 UFC)
*Perez missed weight by 2.5 pounds
They trade to start off as Perez lands a combination. They trade leg kicks. Perez rushes in with a combination, and Johnson lands a body kick. Perez drops Johnson with a left hand and starts landing from the top. Johnson gets to his feet and Perez continues to connect as Johnson is wobbly on his feet. Perez lands a knee and continues to land. Johnson is circling away to survive. Perez lands some more big punches. Johnson looks for a takedown but Perez sprawls and lands more punches as they stand. Perez lands a combo against the fence. Johnson with a pair of body kicks. Perez lands a left hook and Johnson falls face first to the mat and it is stopped! Big finish from Perez, though he did miss weight.
Fight Result- Alex Perez def. Charles Johnson by TKO (punches) at 3:16 of Round 1
> Light Heavyweights- #13 Nikita Krylov (30-11, 11-9 UFC) vs. Modestas Bukauskas (19-6, 7-4 UFC)
Krylov lands a pair of kicks. Bukauskas connects with a right hand. Bukauskas with a combination and lands a right hand afterwards. Krylov shoots for a takedown and pushes Bukauskas against the fence. Krylov still working for a takedown against the fence but not much is happening. Krylov lands a right hand and a high kick as they separate. Krylov with a pair of low kicks. Bukauskas lands a right hand as Krylov lands a leg kick. They trade as Krylov comes forward. Both land and Krylov briefly hurts Bukauskas with a punch. 10-9 Krylov.
Krylov with a leg kick as Bukauskas lands a combination. They trade in close range, and then Bukauskas lands a right hand. They both land as both throw big shots in close range. They tie up and Krylov pushes it to the fence and lands a knee. They end up separating after not a lot of action. Krylov lands a right hand. Bukauskas with a heavy leg kick. Bukauskas lands a combo but Krylov lands a counter right hand. Krylov lands a body kick. Bukauskas with a right hand. They trade late. 10-9 Krylov, 20-18 Krylov.
Bukauskas with a left hand as Krylov throws some front kicks. Krylov connects with a big left hand. Bukauskas lands a left hand. They trade but both are staying out of the range of one another. They trade punches and Bukauskas lands a leg kick. They trade as they nearly clinch up. Krylov with a leg kick as they exchange left hooks. Krylov lands a jab and Bukauskas lands an overhand right. Bukauskas lands a right hand. Krylov drops Bukauskas late with a right hand and lands from the top to get the finish seconds before the fight ends.
Fight Result- Nikita Krylov def. Modestas Bukauskas by knockout (punch) at 4:57 of Round 3
> Middleweights- Ateba Gautier (9-1, 3-0 UFC) vs. Andrey Pulyaev (10-3, 1-1 UFC)
Gautier drops Pulyaev with the first right hand he lands. He lets Pulyaev up and then lands some big punches. Pulyaev lands a body kick and slips, but then Gautier lands as Pulyaev stands. Pulyaev lands a body kick. Pulyaev lands a left hand but Gautier lands a right hand moments later. Gautier lands a right hand. Pulyaev with a left hand. Pulyaev lands some kicks. Pulyaev with a left hand. Pulyaev with a body kick. Pulyaev with a pair of body kicks. 10-9 Gautier.
Gautier is slowing down as the second starts. Pulyaev lands a left hand and a body kick. Pulyaev with another body kick. Pulyaev lands some more kicks as Gautier is looking like he’s just trying to load up on a right hand. Gautier lands a right hand and Pulyaev backs up and falls briefly, but he gets right up. Pulyaev lands a body kick. Gautier with a big right hand. Gautier drops Pulyaev with a right hand and starts landing punches and knees against the fence. Pulyaev looks to have recovered. The pace has slowed. Pulyaev with a short leg kick. Pulyaev lands a high kick. 10-9 Gautier, 20-18 Gautier.
Pulyaev lands a high kick. Gautier lands a right hand. Pulyaev with a body kick. The pace is very slow as Pulyaev lands a left hand and a leg kick. Pulyaev with a high kick. Gautier with a high kick. Pulyaev with a body kick. Gautier with a left hand. Pulyaev lands a body kick followed by a jab. Pulyaev with another stiff body kick. 10-9 Pulyaev, 29-28 Gautier.
Fight Result- Ateba Gautier def. Andrey Pulyaev by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
> Bantamweights*- #2 Umar Nurmagomedov (19-1, 7-1 UFC) vs. #6 Deiveson Figueiredo (25-5-1, 14-5-1 UFC)
*Figueiredo missed weight by 2.5 pounds
Nurmagomedov lands a leg kick. He lands another. Nurmagomedov with a front kick to the body that backs Figueiredo up. Figueiredo lands a leg kick. Nurmagomedov lands to the body as they clinch up. They separate as Nurmagomedov lands an uppercut. Nurmagomedov with a high kick. Nurmagomedov shoots for a takedown and briefly had it, but Figueredo had neck control and they break apart. Nurmagomedov grabs the body and gets a trip takedown. Nurmagomedov working from the half-guard. Nurmagomedov lands to the body and then to the head. Nurmagomedov with more punches from the top. 10-9 Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov landing kicks and punches to keep Figueiredo at a distance early in the second. Nurmagomedov looks for a takedown, but Figueiredo defends. Nurmagomedov lands a body kick. Figueiredo looks for a takedown, but Nurmagomedov defends. Nurmagomedov with a high kick. They both land right hands in close range, and then Nurmagomedov lands a body kick. Nurmagomedov lands a combo before they clinch up. Figueiredo defends and they both start landing as the round winds down. Figueiredo lands a right hand. Nurmagomedov with a left hand. 10-9 Nurmagomedov, 20-18 Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov lands a body kick. Nurmagomedov is pressing forward and controlling as Figueiredo has thrown no offense in the first 90 seconds of the round. Nurmagomedov gets a takedown and is working from inside the guard of Figueiredo. Nurmagomedov lands some punches and moves to side control, but Figueiredo gets him back inside his full guard. Nurmagomedov transitions and lands from the top. 10-9 Nurmagomedov, 30-27 Nurmagomedov.
Fight Result- Umar Nurmagomedov def. Deiveson Figueiredo by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
MAIN CARD | 9 PM ET/6 PM PT
> Featherweights- #6 Arnold Allen (20-3, 11-2 UFC) vs. #10 Jean Silva (16-3, 5-1 UFC)
Allen lands a pair of kicks. Silva lands to the body. Allen lands a left hand. He lands another left hand. Silva with a right hand to the body as Allen lands a high kick, and they then exchange kicks. Allen with a straight left hand to the body. Silva lands a combination. Allen with a body kick. Silva lands a right hand as Allen is working the jab and lands a left hand. Silva lands a right hook to the body followed by a left hand. Allen lands a left hand but Silva ends the round with a big flurry. 10-9 Silva.
Silva lands a high kick. Silva with an inside leg kick. Silva with another high kick. Silva lands a flurry and gets a brief takedown, but they get up and Allen lands several punches. Silva lands an elbow before they break to the center. Allen lands a left hand, and Silva lands an uppercut. Silva with two right hands, one to the body and one to the head. Allen with a high kick followed by a flying knee. Silva lands a solid combination. They tie up and Allen lands a big knee. Silva lands a right hand as Allen lands a spinning attack. Silva with a series of leg kicks. Allen lands a right hand after blocking a head kick. Silva with a spinning elbow. Allen lands a head kick. 10-9 Allen, 19-19.
They trade short leg kicks. Silva with a high kick. Silva with a body kick, then mixes a combo to the body and head. Silva with a series of right hands. Allen grabs the back as they move to the fence. Allen controls, but Silva is able to keep it on the feet and force a separation. Silva looked for a single leg as he initiates a clinch and lands a pair of elbows. Silva moves to the back and gets a brief takedown. Allen lands a body kick on the feet. Silva with a combo and Allen lands a knee to the body. Allen with a high kick. Silva lands a high kick. Silva lands a head kick then a right hand and then another head kick. 10-9 Silva, 29-28 Silva.
Fight Result- Jean Silva def. Arnold Allen by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
> Women’s Flyweights- #2 Natalia Silva (19-5-1, 7-0 UFC) vs. #6 Rose Namajunas (14-7, 12-6 UFC)
Namajunas lands a leg kick. She lands another. Silva hasn’t landed anything in the first 90 seconds. They trade jabs. Namajunas lands a leg kick as Silva lands a combo. Silva with a right hand. Namajunas lands a leg kick. Namajunas lands a right hand as Silva throws a high kick. Namajunas with a leg kick. Namajunas lands a combination as Silva lands a leg kick. Namajunas with a high kick and lands a spinning back fist. They trade leg kicks. 10-9 Namajunas.
Namajunas lands a leg kick. Namajunas with a jab as Silva throws but misses. Silva lands a leg kick as Namajunas lands a right hand. Silva lands a high body kick. They trade inside the pocket. Namajunas lands a right hand. Silva lands a right hand. They clinch and Silva looks for a trip, but Namajunas stays on her feet as they go to the fence. They briefly scramble to the mat, and Namajunas has control as they stand and are at the fence. Namajunas is able to score a takedown and gets inside the guard of Silva. Namajunas controlling from the top as Silva tries to find an opening. 10-9 Namajunas, 20-18 Namajunas.
Namajunas lands a leg kick as Silva lands a combination. Silva starting to land more punches. Silva with an inside leg kick. Namajunas lands a left hook after faking a takedown attempt. Silva lands a combination. Silva with some leg kicks and a spin kick to the body. Namajunas lands a front kick. Silva lands a high kick. They trade kicks. Silva with a high side kick. They trade inside the pocket. Silva with a side kick to the leg. Silva scores a takedown and is in the half-guard of Namajunas. They get up and both land late in the round. 10-9 Silva, 29-28 Namajunas.
Fight Result- Natalia Silva def. Rose Namajunas by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
> Heavyweights- #5 Waldo Cortes-Acosta (16-2, 9-2 UFC) vs. #8 Derrick Lewis (29-12 1 NC, 20-10 UFC)
Lewis lands a body kick. Cortes-Acosta lands a leg kick. Lewis lands a high kick. Lewis lands another high kick as Cortes-Acosta is just moving forward but doing nothing on offense. Cortes-Acosta works the jab. Cortes-Acosta lands a leg kick. Cortes-Acosta lands a right hand. Cortes-Acosta catches a Lewis leg kick and scores a takedown, but lets Lewis back to his feet. 10-9 Cortes-Acosta.
Cortes-Acosta lands a right hand as Lewis was coming forward. Cortes-Acosta works the jab. Lewis with a right hand. Cortes-Acosta lands a left hook. Lewis with a left hook. Lewis lands a right hand. Cortes-Acosta lands a shot and Lewis goes down. Cortes-Acosta starts landing big punches and elbows from the top and it is stopped! Big finish from Cortes-Acosta.
Fight Result- Waldo Cortes-Acosta def. Derrick Lewis by TKO (punches) at 3:14 of Round 2
> Bantamweights- #3 Sean O’Malley (18-3 1 NC, 10-3 1 NC UFC) vs. #5 Song Yadong (22-8-1 1 NC, 11-3-1 UFC)
Yadong lands a leg kick right away. O’Malley with a body kick and they trade leg kicks. They trade kicks as O’Malley lands a left hand. O’Malley with another left hand. Yadong lands a quick combo and O’Malley counters with a spin kick to the body. O’Malley works the jab. Yadong with a lunging left hand that partially lands. O’Malley with a front kick and Yadong lands a leg kick. They continue to trade kicks often. Yadong with a heavy leg kick before he scores a takedown. O’Malley attacks for a guillotine choke but Yadong is able to get his head free. Yadong lands to the body from the top to end the round. 10-9 O’Malley.
Yadong lands a leg kick. O’Malley with a body kick as Yadong lands a right hand. O’Malley lands a body kick. Yadong with a leg kick. Yadong looks for a takedown as he grabs a leg and they scramble down for a moment before standing. Yadong has back control as O’Malley lands back elbows. Yadong gets it down as O’Malley attacks for a guillotine choke, but Yadong escapes and is inside the guard of O’Malley. They scramble to their feet. 10-9 Yadong, 19-19.
O’Malley lands to the body as Yadong lands a calf kick. Yadong lands another leg kick as O’Malley lands a pair of left hands. Yadong lands a combo. O’Malley with a front kick. They trade jabs. Yadong shoots for a takedown but O’Malley easily defends it. O’Malley works the jab. O’Malley lands a body kick, and both land right hands, with O’Malley landing with more power. O’Malley lands a kick as Yadong is throwing punches. Yadong shoots for a takedown, but O’Malley defends and lands a right hand followed by a nice knee. Yadong is bleeding. O’Malley with a left hand and follows with a right hand. O’Malley lands a right hand and a high kick. Close fight. 10-9 O’Malley, 29-28 O’Malley.
Fight Result- Sean O’Malley def. Song Yadong by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
> Interim UFC Lightweight Championship- #4 Justin Gaethje (26-5, 9-5 UFC) vs. #5 Paddy Pimblett (23-3, 7-0 UFC)
Pimblett lands a right hand. He lands a body kick. Pimblett with a leg kick. He lands another. He lands a left hand but Gaethje lands a counter right hand. Pimblett with a solid right hand followed by a leg kick. Pimblett lands a combo with a knee and lands some more, but Gaethje counters back with some right hands. Gaethje lands a right hand and Pimblett goes down. Gaethje starts landing as he grabs the neck. He backs off and lets Pimblett stand. Pimblett lands an uppercut. Pimblett lands a leg kick. He lands a body kick followed by a left hand. Pimblett lands a small flurry. Gaethje grabs the body against the fence. They break apart. Pimblett lands a calf kick. He lands an uppercut. Pimblett lands another uppercut and Gaethje lands a right hand. Time out is called for an eye poke by Gaethje. They get back going and Pimblett lands some leg kicks. They start teeing off against the fence. Pimblett lands an elbow as they clinch, and also some knees as they break apart. 10-9 Gaethje.
Pimblett lands a left hook and a leg kick. Gaethje lands against the fence and grabs the neck as they go to the mat. Pimblett escapes and they stand. Gaethje lands a stiff jab. Pimblett lands a body kick and stumbles. Gaethje lands a knee as they clinch and both are swinging. Pimblett with an uppercut, but Gaethje fires back with a big combination. They tie up and Pimblett with a knee to the body. They trade knees but separate. Pimblett with some more knees to the body. Gaethje lands a right hand and grabs the front headlock, dragging Pimblett to the mat. They start to scramble and Gaethje hurts Pimblett with a knee, but they both stand. Gaethje lands a right hand and Pimblett goes to his butt. Gaethje lands from the top, mixing elbows and punches. Gaethje jumps back on top and lands big shots to end the round. 10-9 Gaethje, 20-18 Gaethje.
Pimblett works the jab. He lands another followed by a leg kick and a right hand. Gaethje starts to land but Pimblett continues to work the jab and is doing better on offense here. Pimblett lands a body kick then a high kick. Gaethje lands a leg kick. Gaethje with an overhand right. Pimblett lands a body kick. They trade leg kicks. They both land a left hand at the same time. Pimblett comes forward but eats a right hand from Gaethje. Pimblett lands an uppercut and Gaethje lands a leg kick. Time out is called after a groin strike by Pimblett. They get back going and Pimblett is landing more as Gaethje lands a solid jab. Pimblett with some leg kicks. Gaethje lands a flush right hand. They trade jabs. 10-9 Pimblett, 29-28 Gaethje.
They trade big shots and Gaethje hurts Pimblett with a right hand. Gaethje lands a left hook as Pimblett shoots for a takedown. Gaethje has the neck but Pimblett escapes and they stand. Gaethje pushes Pimblett against the fence but they separate. Gaethje lands a big right hand. Gaethje hurts Pimblett with some big punches but Pimblett recovers. Gaethje lands a leg kick. They tie up and Gaethje with some knees and an elbow. Gaethje with an uppercut. They break apart and trade jabs. Pimblett lands a nice sequence but eats a jab from Gaethje. Pimblett lands a right hand. Pimblett with a pair of high kicks. Pimblett lands a combo as they scramble down late and Gaethje lands. 10-9 Gaethje, 39-37 Gaethje.
They trade and Pimblett hurts Gaethje with some shots. Gaethje recovers and lands a huge right hand. They tie up against the fence and Gaethje lands to the body and a right hand as they break. Gaethje with a leg kick. Gaethje lands a jab. Pimblett with an uppercut. Pimblett lands a combo. Pimblett with an uppercut in the clinch. Pimblett shoots for a takedown, but Gaethje defends it. Pimblett pushes it to the fence and lands some knees. They separate and Gaethje lands a big right hand. Pimblett lands a combination. They trade right hands. Pimblett lands a big flurry and Gaethje forces a clinch. Pimblett lands to the body and lands a small flurry on a brief break. Gaethje with a right hand in the clinch. They break apart. They both swing late. 10-9 Pimblett, 48-47 Gaethje.
Fight Result- Justin Gaethje def. Paddy Pimblett by unanimous decision (48-47, 49-46, 49-46) to win the Interim UFC Lightweight Championship
MMA writer & live coverage specialist, contributor to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter