UFC 324 delivered a marathon night of action Saturday from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, capped by a five-round war that crowned a new interim lightweight champion.
Justin Gaethje defeated Paddy Pimblett by unanimous decision in the main event, earning the interim 155-pound title as the promotion’s undisputed champion, Ilia Topuria, remains sidelined for personal reasons.
The entire card streamed on Paramount+, marking another major night in the UFC’s evolving broadcast era.
Gaethje improved to 27-5 overall and 10-5 in the UFC after surviving one of the grittiest fights of the year. Pimblett, who absorbed heavy damage across all five rounds, fell to 23-4 and suffered his first loss since joining the promotion.
The bout lived up to its billing. Gaethje pressured from the opening bell, targeting Pimblett’s body and legs while repeatedly forcing exchanges along the fence.
Pimblett showed resilience and moments of success, particularly in the third round, but Gaethje’s pace, durability and volume ultimately separated him on the scorecards.
All three judges sided with Gaethje, with scores of 48-47, 49-46 and 49-46, after a fight that swung violently from round to round and never slowed.
The co-main event featured former bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley, who edged Song Yadong by unanimous decision in a tightly contested three-round fight.
O’Malley’s accuracy and late surge in the third round proved decisive, earning him a 29-28 score across all three cards.
Earlier on the main card, heavyweight Waldo Cortes-Acosta stopped Derrick Lewis by TKO in the second round, continuing his steady climb in the division.
Natalia Silva also remained unbeaten in the UFC, outpointing former strawweight champion Rose Namajunas by unanimous decision in a competitive women’s flyweight matchup.
Jean Silva opened the main card with a unanimous decision win over Arnold Allen, capping an emotional performance that set the tone for the night.
While the fights unfolded in Las Vegas, the night had a familiar rhythm closer to home.
With a rare Saturday night off for me from Hockey Night in Canada, the evening opened the door for a long-standing tradition: UFC night with the boys at Boston Pizza.
The usual routine needed adjusting. The childhood Boston Pizza on Marine Drive, a longtime staple for fight nights, closed at the end of 2025.
That sent the group scrambling to find a new spot, turning what’s usually a seamless ritual into an unexpected road trip.
By the time the main card began, the Tsawwassen location was quoting a 40-minute wait.
A quick pivot toward South Surrey followed, only to find that location filled as well. Just as the opening bout between Arnold Allen and Jean Silva got underway, a notification came through — the original table in Tsawwassen was ready.
The result was a full circle drive back, missing the first two main-card fights live but catching up afterward.
Even with the logistical chaos, the night still delivered the same familiar feel: food, fights and a card that rewarded anyone who stayed up late.
On the preliminary card, Umar Nurmagomedov dominated former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo over three rounds, continuing his rise.
Nikita Krylov closed the prelims with a dramatic last-second knockout of Modestas Bukauskas, while Alex Perez needed just over three minutes to stop Charles Johnson.
The early portion of the card featured several finishes, including Ty Miller’s debut TKO win and Josh Hokit’s late stoppage of Denzel Freeman, helping maintain energy throughout the lengthy broadcast.
By the time Gaethje and Pimblett touched gloves for the fifth round, the night had fully settled into what UFC cards often do best — exhaustion mixed with adrenaline, chaos balanced by clarity.Gaethje walked away with gold around his waist and a likely date
with Topuria later this year. Pimblett walked away battered but still very much in the conversation.
For everyone watching — whether inside T-Mobile Arena or hunting for an open booth at Boston Pizza — UFC 324 delivered exactly what a marquee fight card promises: unpredictability, punishment and a night that was worth the wait.
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