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Live sport on SN this weekendUFC 324 odds preview: Can Pimblett overpower 'The Highlight'?
Stephen Foote • January 23rd, 2026 3:51 pm
Paddy Pimblett, Justin Gaethje | Photo: UFC
The UFC returns with a bang this weekend, making its highly anticipated 2026 debut with a tasty line-up of fights to celebrate the start of the Paramount era.
While the postponement of the co-main event - a mammoth title fight between Kayla Harrison and Amanda Nunes - was a deflating blow, there's still plenty to get excited about in Vegas on Sunday (NZ time).
There's a strong argument to suggest this fight should never have been scheduled, after Arman Tsarukyan's dismantling of our own Dan Hooker late last year to consolidate his spot as the lightweight division's premier contender.
Those circumstances aside, this is an unequivocally intriguing matchup to decide who claims the interim belt and sets up what would likely be a unification bout against champion Ilia Topuria - likely in late 2026.
Pimblett has been a polarising figure in MMA, but whether you love him or hate him - it's impossible not to be impressed with his rapid improvement on a fight-by-fight basis, punctuated by his demolition of Michael Chandler early last year.
He enters this bout as a clear favourite over veteran Gaethje, whose no-holds-barred style has earned him cult hero status among the MMA sphere.
The American bounced back from his posterisation by Max Holloway with an impressive display against Rafael Fiziev in March.
But at 37 years old and with a chin that seems to be softening, there are clear doubts about whether he still has the capacity to compete among the elite of the elite.
The biggest factor in this contest will likely be Pimblett's undeniable advantage in the grappling department. The Brit has proven one of the best back-takers in the UFC in recent years, while Gaethje's wrestling and submission defence could be described as adequate - at best.
Couple that with Pimblett's iron jaw - meaning Gaethje's most dangerous weapon, his heavy hands, may well be compromised - and this could be a steep hill to claim for 'The Highlight'.
It's wild to think that, on the back of two rather one-sided defeats to Merab Dvalishvili, O'Malley is now right on the cusp of earning another shot at the bantamweight title.
But here we are.
There were few less elated by Petr Yan's stunning victory over Dvalishvili than 'Suga', who by mere process of elimination, finds himself back at the front of the title queue although Umar Nurmagomedov may have something to say about that earlier in proceedings in his clash with Deiveson Figueiredo.
If he's able to emphatically dispatch a rugged adversary like Yadong this weekend, it would have Dana White grinning ear-to-ear in his front-row seat, desperate to vault someone with the genuine star power and rabid fanbase O'Malley possesses - not to mention the fact that he's American, not Dagestani.
This time around, without the omini-present takedown threat of Dvalishvili in front of him, we should see O'Malley return to his show-stopping best, his highly accurate arsenal of innovative striking equally unpredictable and devastating.
Yadong will be an eager and willing partner in the stand-up. The Korean throws with plenty of heat, but he lacks the finesse of O'Malley, who I expect will be able to dominate those exchanges.
But with his exceptional durability, Yadong should be able to survive the full three rounds, which makes the O'Malley by points ($2.20) option an attractive proposition on betcha.
Sean O'Malley & Song Yadong square off | Photo: UFC
No heavyweight has done themselves more favours in 2025 than Cortes-Acosta
The Dominican was one of the most active fighters on the roster, competing a baffling four times from June - including two in as many weeks - winning all four fights to put his name firmly in the spotlight in a division crying out for fresh talent
Fresh talent, Derrick Lewis is not. But talent, he certainly is.
While the 'Black Beast' is a clear underdog in this one ($3.45), are we really going to pass up the opportunity to back the UFC's all-time leader in knockouts (16) - a record he extended just six months ago against Tallison Teixeira - to do go one further in the most unpredictable weight class in combat sport?
Making this bet even more appealing is betcha's boost of those odds for a Lewis win by KO/TKO to a whopping $8.50.
It may be a longshot, but it's a fun longshot.
All betcha odds are current at the time of publishing - R18, please gamble responsibly.
