It\u2019s been six weeks since UFC fans have gotten their fix, and, really, one question still lingers:<\/p>\n
How hype are you for UFC 324?<\/p>\n
On paper, this Saturday\u2019s effort has all the makings of a fine card: Two all-action lightweights who know how to sell a fight in the main event, a former UFC champion likely competing for another title shot in the co-main, and a slew of would-be contenders, reliable veterans, and recognizable names filling out the undercard.<\/p>\n
But there are no undisputed titles on the line \u2014 with Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett battling for interim lightweight champion status and bantamweight queen Kayla Harrison postponing her duel with returning legend Amanda Nunes due to neck surgery \u2014 and the card lacks a certain pizazz, especially considering this is the UFC\u2019s first numbered event of 2026 and the kickoff of its partnership with Paramount.<\/p>\n
So given that, it\u2019s fair to ask if the UFC has put its best foot forward. Here to answer that question is the MMA Fighting panel of Alexander K. Lee, Mike Heck, and Jed Meshew, who dug into the storylines surrounding Saturday\u2019s show.<\/p>\n
1. Is this one of the UFC\u2019s weaker January kickoff efforts?<\/p>\n
Lee: Let\u2019s get scientific with it by taking a look back at recent January pay-per-views.<\/p>\n
2025 – UFC 311: We didn\u2019t get Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan 2 (will we ever?), but Makhachev still took care of business in the main event, and Merab Dvalishvili began his memorable 2025 campaign with a thrilling win over Umar Nurmagomedov2024 – UFC 297: Sean Strickland defended the middleweight title against Dricus du Plessis, and Raquel Pennington battled Mayra Bueno Silva for a vacant bantamweight belt. I was on site for this, and the vibes were mid2023 – UFC 283: Glover Teixeira fought Jamahal Hill in yet another vacant light heavyweight title fight, and the Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Brandon Moreno tetralogy was settled. Again, kind of mid, even for the hardcores2022 – UFC 270: Now we\u2019re talking. Heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou fought Ciryl Gane in what would turn out to be Ngannou\u2019s last UFC fight, and Figgy-Moreno 3 happened. This one felt big at the time2021 – UFC 257 and 2020 – UFC 246: Conor McGregor headlined both of these shows, so regardless of card depth, he brought a ton of hype with him as always<\/p>\n
Two things I can say with confidence: 1) The UFC\u2019s January efforts tend to be somewhat structurally uneven (\u201cHey, who can we call that won\u2019t be hungover from the holidays?\u201d) and 2) if we\u2019re looking at the cards top to bottom. UFC 324 actually compares favorably to the events listed above. Along with the main event, 13 ranked fighters are scheduled, and four fights could legitimately produce the next title challenger in their respective divisions (you better believe I\u2019m including Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. Derrick Lewis!).<\/p>\n
So I actually consider UFC 324 to be a relatively strong calendar-starter, but losing Harrison vs. Nunes definitely hurt.<\/p>\n
Heck: As far as \u201cnumbered events\u201d go, I have UFC 324, at least on paper, as either No. 1 or 2 of the post-COVID era in terms of card quality. In fact, the last pre-era January UFC pay-per-view was UFC 246 headlined by Conor McGregor vs. Donald Cerrone, and that was a BAD card outside of McGregor\u2019s return.<\/p>\n
To talk about other things from these past January cards that My Best Friend mentioned, we know about the main event of UFC 257, but care to take a guess what the featured bout of UFC 257 was? I\u2019ll tell you, Jessica Eye vs. Joanne Wood. Did you know Andrew Sanchez was on the main card of a pay-per-view? Well, he was on that same card and got knocked out by Makhmud Muradov.<\/p>\n
UFC 270 did give us the UFC debut of Michael Morales, who just massacred poor Trevin Giles. UFC 283 had two title fights and not much else. UFC 297 was BAD BAD outside of the main event being super competitive, and UFC 311 was really good, despite losing Tsarukyan, which has to dock it points.<\/p>\n
To me, it\u2019s either UFC 311 or Saturday\u2019s card as being the best in total card quality for a January numbered-event in a long time, even without Harrison vs. Nunes.<\/p>\n
Meshew: While my compatriots decided to defend UFC 324 with \u201cfacts\u201d and \u201cdata,\u201d I know the truth, and the truth is that feelings don\u2019t care about your facts (at least, I think that\u2019s how the saying goes). Is UFC 324 good? Yes! In fact, it\u2019s pretty darn good!<\/p>\n
UFC 324 is the first event of the next era of MMA \u2014 I understand that the UFC doesn\u2019t own MMA, but it kind of does, in a practical sense. Think of it like a new job. You\u2019re starting at a new company, and you want to put your best foot forward out of the gate, because first impressions are lasting ones. And while UFC 324 might not be the equivalent of a new hire coming in a revolutionizing the workplace, it is akin to you starting a job and immediately bringing in a new client.<\/p>\n
And that\u2019s the goal for this card. UFC 324 is not a card built for hardcore fans. Hardcore fans are a captive audience, and they haven\u2019t had big fights in six weeks; they will be fine. This is a card built to showcase to non-MMA fans how exciting the sport can be. And while Harrison-Nunes is a great fight, there\u2019s even a case that it leaving this event is better for the overall vision from the promotion.<\/p>\n
On Saturday night, a whole swath of new people are going to tune into the UFC because there\u2019s no longer a PPV paywall in the way. And when they tune in, they\u2019ll see Ateba Gautier merc a dude, or Sean O\u2019Malley and Song Yadong go to war, or the most exciting fighter in the history of the sport challenge for a belt. That\u2019s how you bring new fans into the sport. And while this might not be the most meritorious or \u201cbest\u201d card ever assembled for those looking for the \u201csport\u201d in all of this, I would bet you 10-to-1 that a vast majority of people will have a good time watching this.<\/p>\n
2. Can the main event winner make a case to be the true No. 1 lightweight?<\/p>\n
Lee: For numerous reasons, no.<\/p>\n