The wait is almost over. If you've been refreshing your feed wondering what's the next UFC event to actually care about, you can finally stop looking.
After a brief holiday hiatus, the Octagon is returning in a massive way on January 24, 2026. UFC 324 is hitting the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, and honestly, the card is absolutely stacked for a season opener. We aren't just getting one title fight; we're getting two, plus the return of a legend who many thought had hung up the gloves for good.
This isn't just another weekend of fights. It marks a brand-new era for the promotion. Starting with this event, the UFC has officially moved its primary broadcast home to Paramount+. No more messing around with various apps—everything is basically under one roof now for the U.S. audience.
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Gaethje vs. Pimblett: Chaos for the Interim Strap
The main event is a fight that sounds like a fever dream. Justin "The Highlight" Gaethje is squaring off against Paddy "The Baddy" Pimblett for the interim lightweight championship.
Why interim? Because the undisputed king, Ilia Topuria, is currently weighing his options for a summer return. Gaethje is coming off that legendary (and painful) BMF loss to Max Holloway last year, and people were wondering if he still had that dog in him. Meanwhile, Paddy has surged through the rankings with a style that is part grappling wizardry and part "scousers don't get knocked out."
It’s a classic "Violence vs. Hype" matchup. If Gaethje lands one of those patented leg kicks, it could be a short night. But Paddy has shown a weird, elastic durability that makes him hard to put away. The winner gets Topuria. Simple as that.
The Return of the GOAT
If the main event wasn't enough, the co-main is arguably more historic. Kayla Harrison is finally getting her crack at UFC gold, but she has to go through the returning Amanda Nunes to get it.
Yes, "The Lioness" is back.
Nunes retired in 2023, leaving the bantamweight division in a bit of a mess. Harrison has been wrecking everyone in her path since joining the UFC, but she’s never faced anyone with the finishing power of Nunes. This is personal, too—they were teammates back at American Top Team before things got frosty. Watching two of the greatest female athletes ever collide is worth the price of admission alone.
The Full UFC 324 Main Card
While we’re talking about what's the next UFC, it helps to see the whole lineup. Vegas is getting a lot of love for this one.
- Main Event: Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett (Interim Lightweight Title)
- Co-Main: Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes (Women’s Bantamweight Title)
- Bantamweight: Sean O'Malley vs. Song Yadong
- Women’s Flyweight: Alexa Grasso vs. Rose Namajunas
- Heavyweight: Derrick Lewis vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta
O'Malley vs. Song Yadong is a sleeper pick for Fight of the Night. O'Malley is trying to claw back to title contention, and Song is a powerhouse who doesn't mind eating a shot to give one. Expect fireworks.
UFC 325: Sydney Isn't Waiting Long
What’s wild is that the UFC is doing a "doubleheader" of sorts. Just one week after Vegas, the circus moves to Sydney, Australia for UFC 325 on January 31, 2026.
Alexander Volkanovski is the local hero here. He's defending his featherweight title in a rematch against Diego Lopes. Their first fight at UFC 314 was a technical masterpiece, and the UFC didn't waste any time booking the sequel.
However, the Sydney card did take a hit recently. Australian light heavyweight Jimmy Crute had to pull out of his fight against Dustin Jacoby after rupturing his ACL in training. It’s a bummer for the local fans, but the UFC is currently hunting for a replacement to keep Jacoby on the card.
How the 2026 Schedule is Shaping Up
If you're a planner, 2026 is looking busy. The UFC is aiming for 43 events this year—13 numbered PPV-style events and 30 Fight Nights.
- UFC 324: Jan 24 (Las Vegas)
- UFC 325: Jan 31 (Sydney)
- UFC Fight Night: Feb 7 (Bautista vs. Oliveira - UFC Apex)
- UFC Fight Night: Feb 21 (Strickland vs. Hernandez - Houston)
- UFC Fight Night: Feb 28 (Moreno vs. Almabayev - Mexico City)
- UFC 326: March 7 (Holloway vs. Oliveira 2 - Las Vegas)
That Houston card on February 21 is going to be loud. Sean Strickland in a Texas crowd is always a recipe for something weird happening on the microphone. He’s facing "Fluffy" Anthony Hernandez, who has been quietly strangling everyone in the middleweight division for the last two years.
The Paramount+ Era
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: how to watch. The days of hunting for which channel or app has the prelims are mostly over.
Paramount+ is now the exclusive home for everything. The early prelims still start on UFC Fight Pass for the hardcore fans who want to see the debutants at 2:00 PM PT, but the main card is all Paramount+ at 6:00 PM PT (9:00 PM ET).
It’s a bit of a shift, but it’s part of a bigger move to make the sport more accessible to casual viewers. Honestly, it’s about time they simplified the viewing experience.
Actionable Insights for Fight Fans
If you're looking to keep up with what's the next UFC without losing your mind, here’s how to stay ahead of the game:
- Download the UFC App: It’s actually decent now for live stats and "hidden" fight announcements that don't always hit Twitter immediately.
- Sync your Calendar: Most major MMA sites offer a calendar sync. Use it. Between the Vegas time zones and international cards like Sydney, start times are going to be all over the place this month.
- Check Ticket Presales: If you’re eyeing that Houston or Mexico City card, the newsletter presales usually happen on Thursdays, a day before the general public gets them.
The start of 2026 is basically a love letter to the fans. Between Gaethje's violence, Nunes' return, and Volkanovski's homecoming, we're in for a hell of a month. Get your Paramount+ login sorted now, because January 24th is going to be legendary.