Discover expert predictions for the main card of UFC 324: Gaethje vs. Pimblett — the event marking the start of the Paramount+ era Saturday.

Updated on January 22, 2026 7:35PM EST

UFC 324 Expert Picks: Predictions for the Main Card

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Updated on January 22, 2026 7:35PM EST

UFC Picks

UFC 324 expert picks are up for the first ever card of the new Paramount+ era. Multiple fan-favorites will be in action, with Paddy Pimblett and Justin Gaethje squaring off for the interim lightweight title, and Sean O’Malley looking to start a new winning streak in a co-main event matchup against Yadong Song.

UFC 324 DraftKings Picks
UFC 324 Betting Picks
UFC 324 Fight Breakdowns
UFC 324 DFS & Prop Breakdown

We also feature a  UFC DFS Lineup Optimizer to try if you’re looking to try out different combinations of fighters and/or generate multiple lineups, plus UFC 324 odds from every major sportsbook.

MMA Expert Picks & Predictions: UFC 324 Pay-Per-View CardMATCHUP

WEIGHT 

CLASS

JONJAKECHRISJustin Gaethje (+185) vs.
Paddy Pimblett (-245)

Interim
Lightweight
Championship

GaethjePimblettPimblettSean O’Malley (-220) vs.
Yadong Song (+165)

Bantamweight

O’MalleyO’MalleyO’MalleyDerrick Lewis (+240) vs.
Waldo Cortes-Acosta (-330)

Heavyweight

LewisLewisCortes-AcostaNatalia Silva (-440) vs.
Rose Namajunas (+310)

Women’s
Flyweight

SilvaSilvaSilvaArnold Allen (+230) vs.
Jean Silva (-310)

Featherweight

AllenSilvaAllen     UFC 324 RECORD 0-00-00-02026 RECORD 0-00-00-02026 PERCENTAGE —2025 RECORD 37-2535-2726-362025 PERCENTAGE .597.565.4192024 RECORD 45-1941-2339-252024 PERCENTAGE .703.641.6102023 RECORD 42-2544-2335-322023 PERCENTAGE .627.657.5222022 RECORD 34-2740-2125-262022 PERCENTAGE .557.656.4902021 RECORD 35-2842-2137-262021 PERCENTAGE .556.667.5862020 RECORD 36-1834-2028-262020 PERCENTAGE .667.630.5192019 RECORD 39-1935-2332-262019 PERCENTAGE .672.603.552ALL-TIME  363-223368-218 291-241ALL-TIME PERCENTAGE .619.628.547 

MATCHUP

WEIGHT 
CLASS

JOE
“SUNTZU”

COLE     DRAKEJustin Gaethje (+185) vs.
Paddy Pimblett (-245)

Interim
Lightweight
Championship

TBDPimblettPimblettSean O’Malley (-220) vs.
Yadong Song (+165)

Bantamweight

TBDO’MalleyO’MalleyDerrick Lewis (+240) vs.
Waldo Cortes-Acosta (-330)

Heavyweight

TBDCortes-AcostaCortes-AcostaNatalia Silva (-440) vs.
Rose Namajunas (+310)

Women’s
Flyweight

TBDSilvaSilvaArnold Allen (+230) vs.
Jean Silva (-310)

Featherweight

TBDSilvaSilva     UFC 324 RECORD 0-00-00-02026 RECORD 0-00-00-02026 PERCENTAGE —2025 RECORD 32-3037-2541-212025 PERCENTAGE .516.597.6612024 RECORD 40-2440-2443-212024 PERCENTAGE .625.625.6722023 RECORD 41-2644-2336-312023 PERCENTAGE .612.657.5372022 RECORD 38-2339-2239-222022 PERCENTAGE .623.639.6392021 RECORD 38-2543-2117-142021 PERCENTAGE .603.672.5482020 RECORD 36-18N/AN/A2020 PERCENTAGE .667N/AN/A2019 RECORD 34-24N/AN/A2019 PERCENTAGE .586N/AN/AALL-TIME 296-189200-113176-109ALL-TIME PERCENTAGE .610.639.618

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THE PICKERS

Jon Litterine: RotoWire lead MMA beat writer and scribe for our weekly DrafKings preview. Lead analyst on the RotoWire MMA Podcast. Follow him on Twitter at @JonLitterine.

Jake Letarski: RotoWire.com Operations Manager, plus MMA and NCAA Hoops Senior Editor. Host on the RotoWire MMA Podcast and guest on the RotoWire Fantasy Football Podcast. Follow him on Twitter at @RotoJake.

Chris Olson: Contributor at RotoWire to “Fight IQ, presented by RotoWire,” as well as The MMA Mashup, DFS Baseball, a MMA gambling columnist and fight recaps. Follow him on Twitter at @RealChrisOlson.

Joe “SunTszu”: Known more commonly by his Twitter handle @SunTszu, Joe is a Hedge Fund Executive by day and high-volume DFS player by night. He is a 2x “Bracket Challenge” & “Gotham qualifier. You can also find him as one of the original contributors of “Fight IQ, presented by RotoWire,” a DFS-centric video breakdown. He is also a co-creator of the “Creating Alpha in DFS” podcast.

Cole Shelton: Cole Shelton is a full-time sports writer focusing on MMA. His work has appeared on BJPenn.com, CBC Sports, Sports Betting Dime and Blue Jays Nation. He currently pens the MMA Best Bets column on RotoWire. Follow him on Twitter at @ColeShelton91.

Drake Burden: Drake is a proven DFS winner with multiple four-figure paydays under his belt. He took an interest to writing MMA during the pandemic and is active in various Discords and other social media communities. Follow him on Twitter at @DBurdz.

RotoWire has the latest in UFC betting odds & fighter prop bets for every event, plus compares markets across multiple legal sportsbooks.