It has been confirmed that Ilia Topuria vs Paddy Pimblett will headline UFC 324 in the first Paramount+ show on January 10 in Los Angeles.
The UFC Lightweight Title will be on the line as the Topuria aims to make a successful first defence against bitter rival Pimblett to kickstart the UFC’s new Paramount+ broadcast deal.
Ilia Topuria vs Paddy Pimblett Confirmed For UFC 324 On Paramount+
It has been confirmed that Ilia Topuria vs Paddy Pimblett will headline UFC 324 on January 10 in what will be the UFC’s first numbered card to kickstart their new broadcast deal with streaming giants Paramount+.
There were rumours earlier this year that Topuria vs Pimblett was confirmed after odds were leaked for a potential bout, and it seems that leak was legitimate with the fight going down at UFC 324 on January 10.
Ilia Topuria will aim to defend his 155-pound crown for the first time against the #6 lightweight contender Paddy Pimblett, who has been patiently waiting for his shot at ‘El Matador’.
‘The Baddy’ hasn’t fought since April, but was last seen dominating Michael Chandler at UFC 314 and stopping him in the third round. Since then, he has had his sights firmly set on facing Topuria for the lightweight belt next.
The champion on the other hand was last seen knocking out future UFC Hall of Famer Charles Oliveira in one round at UFC 317, becoming the lightweight king in the process.
Since then, speculation as to who Topuria’s first UFC Lightweight Title defence would be against has been rife. For a while it looked like Topuria vs Gaethje was confirmed for UFC 324, but it now looks like Pimblett has got the first shot instead.
Although unconfirmed by UFC President Dana White himself, expect an official announcement in the coming weeks for this 155-pound super-fight.
Topuria vs Pimblett will be the first numbered card in the UFC’s new broadcast deal with Paramount+. The bout will take place on January 10 in Los Angeles, kickstarting the new broadcast deal with a truly mammoth match-up at UFC 324.
🚨 BREAKING: Ilia Topuria vs. Paddy Pimblett is official for UFC 324 this January, live from Los Angeles, California!
Originally, the UFC had plans to grant Justin Gaethje the next lightweight title shot. However, in a strategic move to maximize viewership for their Paramount+… pic.twitter.com/pnW75dUbUi
— Cageside Access (@CagesideAccess) October 19, 2025
Who Will Be The Topuria vs Pimblett Favourite At UFC 324?
As the current #1 in the latest UFC pound-for-pound rankings and the reigning lightweight champion, Ilia Topuria will go into his UFC 324 match-up with Paddy Pimblett as the pre-fight favourite.
The Spanish-Georgian MMA star is unbeaten inside the octagon, and has look indestructible of late. His rise to the top of the UFC has been nothing short of mesmerising, dismantling legends and future Hall of Fame fighters in the process with relative ease.
Although his next fight against Pimblett in the UFC 324 main event will mark just his second fight at lightweight, the 28-year-old will be priced as a fairly overwhelming favourite to defeat ‘The Baddy’.
That being said, Pimblett is undefeated in the UFC since signing from Cage Warriors over four years ago. He will be a rather substantial underdog here, but will certainly fancy his chances of getting the better of ‘El Matador’.
Pimblett had been stepping up his trash talk of late whilst chasing the Topuria super-fight at the Santiago Bernabeu, but instead has got the fight in the first Paramount+ show of 2026 as a new era begins for the UFC.
Although the Liverpudlian might be a fairly big underdog, he will more than fancy his chances of upsetting the odds and becoming the new lightweight king. If he does, he could well become the biggest star in all of MMA almost overnight.
With reports of Ilia Topuria’s break up with wife Giorgina, this could well have affect the outcome of the UFC 324 main event. Whether it works in Topuria’s favour or indeed against him remains to be seen.
