Cord cutters are less than two months away from streaming the Octagon in a totally new way. Paramount+ just revealed the first card of its new UFC partnership, and the streamer is kicking the door wide open for the marquee event. UFC 324 lands on Saturday, January 24, 2026, live from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, and the card is stacked with some of MMA’s biggest names.
For Paramount+’s inaugural event, the main event pits Justin Gaethje against Paddy Pimblett for the interim lightweight title. The bout is a matchup designed to grab both hardcore fans and casual viewers of the streamer. The co-main of Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes brings one of the greatest champions in MMA history against one of the biggest recent additions to the roster.
UFC 324: Gaethje vs. Pimblet ushers in a new era of MMA, with Paramount+ locking up exclusive streaming rights in a recent $7.7 billion deal. The move away from ESPN+ marks a significant shift as the promotion is moving away from the old pay-per-view model, and plans to air select simulcasts on CBS. The debut event is where fans will see what that shift actually looks like. Longtime UFC watchers who are tired of opening their wallets for marquee events can now watch big fights without the large price tag.
UFC 324 fits into a much broader strategy from Paramount, which has been steadily building a deeper sports lineup. The company recently expanded its UFC partnership, adding Latin America and Australia. Beyond MMA, Paramount+ doubled down by picking up UFC head honcho Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing. These moves mark a shift as Paramount+ is becoming a central hub for many combat sports fans.
Paramount’s aggressive sports buys aren’t happening in a vacuum, as the company is also making corporate plays. The media giant has made bids and strategic positioning in a larger media asset deal for Warner Bros. Discovery, per reports. Combined with its recent venture into sports expansion, these moves signal a broader appetite for content that drives subscriber engagement and brand value.
If you’re a frequent UFC viewer, Paramount+ now bundles what used to be pay-per-view into a streaming subscription, and you can save on the first two months with the Black Friday sale below.