We’re so back!
Following the longest break in well over a decade, the UFC roared back into focus on Saturday, opening the Paramount+ Era with a loaded UFC 324 fight card at T-Mobile Arena that started with fireworks and closed with a slobberknocker for the interim lightweight title.
It was a wild night to open the year in Las Vegas, and now it’s time to pull things apart and dive into the takeaways from the first numbered event of 2026.
An Absolute Belter to Begin the Year
Justin Gaethje claimed the interim UFC lightweight title for a second time on Saturday evening, but it was a much tougher fight this time around as Paddy Pimblett went toe-to-toe with the human wrecking ball in a blistering contest that set the bar for Fight of the Year exceptionally high straight out of the gates.