Pimblett vs Gaethje live: UFC 324 start time, undercard, fight updates and results tonight
Latest updates as ‘Paddy The Baddy’ takes on Justin Gaethje for the interim lightweight belt – and a shot at bitter rival Ilia Topuria
Tonight, Paddy Pimblett fights for UFC gold for the first time, as the Liverpudlian takes on Justin Gaethje in Las Vegas. But as “Paddy The Baddy” and Gaethje clash at UFC 324, there is more on the line than just the interim lightweight title.
The winner of tonight’s main event should be next for regular champion Ilia Topuria, Pimblett’s bitter rival, who is currently taking a break from MMA for personal reasons. Pimblett could therefore set up one of the biggest fights in the sport, or Gaethje could become a two-time interim champ, after the American held that version of the belt in 2020.
While Gaethje, 37, has twice failed to win the undisputed title and is in the last-chance saloon this year, Pimblett, 31, is a newcomer to lights as bright as these. Yet he has continued to defy his doubters in staying unbeaten in the UFC, and he saw off a former MMA champion last time out by stopping Michael Chandler.
Tonight’s co-main event was due to see all-time great Amanda Nunes emerge from retirement to challenge an old teammate, bantamweight queen Kayla Harrison, but the latter sustained an injury last week. As such, Sean O’Malley vs Song Yadong was pushed up the card, with an allegation of racism feeding into their fight.
Follow live updates and results from UFC 324, from the prelims to the main event, below.
UFC 324 live: Nikita Krylov vs Modestas Bukauskas
Three fights, three first-round TKOs!
We roll on, with Nikita Krylov facing Modestas Bukauskas at light-heavyweight next.
British-Lithuanian Bukauskas has been a fighter reborn since returning to the UFC after an ill-fated first run, and a win here would be one of his best yet.
Still, he’s a fighter who often flirts with danger, and Krylov has a habit of snatching submissions, so Bukauskas must beware...
UFC 324 live: Alex Perez vs Charles Johnson
Round one
Perez is overeager and sloppy with an entry early on, and he’s popped with a one-two as he stumbles to his knees.
Johnson has thrown a few high kicks already, and one nearly gets through... Oh! Out of nowhere, he’s dropped hard!
Perez, still a ball of energy, goes in for the knockout, but Johnson scrambles to his feet...
But he’s on wobbly legs and eating hard, intermittent shots... He’s trying to evade and buy time, but he’s so unsteady.
Johnson falls to his knees but Perez can’t find the killer punch, and again Johnson stands! Somehow...
He hits the canvas one final time, and it’s mercifully waved off! He still tries a single-leg on Perez, wayyyy on delay, a testament to how little cognition he has right now...
UFC 324 live: Alex Perez vs Charles Johnson
The regular prelims will get going now, with Alex Perez vs Charles Johnson kicking off this section of tonight’s action.
This is a flyweight showdown, with Perez a former title challenger but having struggled at yesterday’s weigh-in. The American, 33, was 2.5lb overweight...
His bout with Johnson is the third straight all-American fight of the evening.
For what it’s worth, Johnson, 35, has the worst haircut I’ve ever seen.
UFC 324 live: Josh Hokit vs Denzel Freeman
Round one
Hokit shoots for a takedown immediately! He forces Freeman to the fence and dumps him down with a double-leg, having briefly tried a single-leg.
Hokit take the back of Freeman, who’s on his knees for a while here... Hokit doesn’t advance the position or fire off any punches for quite a while, but now he’s working. Somewhere in there, Hokit slaps Freeman’s backside mockingly, jeez.
He’s letting short punches go, but Freeman takes the opportunity to stand. Freeman gets loose, and Hokit stings him with a jab.
Now a knee to the body has Freeman retreating. A right hand to the body, then a front kick, before Hokit lands an uppercut to the head – this is slick stuff.
Freeman drops to his knees, and Hokit throws some ground and pound before seeking a rear naked choke. A scramble sees Freeman stand, but he’s taking a beating in the boxing exchanges – 65-0 is the UFC’s total-strikes stat!!
Freeman is also exhausted, lolloping all over the place. He drops to his knees right before the buzzer sounds, while Hokit walks away and flips him off, and the ref waves it off! Wow. An odd fight-ending visual, but Freeman was done to be fair.
UFC 324 live: Josh Hokit vs Denzel Freeman
Round one
Hokit shoots for a takedown immediately! He forces Freeman to the fence and dumps him down with a double-leg, having briefly tried a single-leg.
Hokit take the back of Freeman, who’s on his knees for a while here... Hokit doesn’t advance the position or fire off any punches for quite a while, but now he’s working. Somewhere in there, Hokit slaps Freeman’s backside mockingly, jeez.
He’s letting short punches go, but Freeman takes the opportunity to stand. Freeman gets loose, and Hokit stings him with a jab.
Now a knee to the body has Freeman retreating. A right hand to the body, then a front kick, before Hokit lands an uppercut to the head – this is slick stuff.
Freeman drops to his knees, and Hokit throws some ground and pound before seeking a rear naked choke. A scramble sees Freeman stand, but he’s taking a beating in the boxing exchanges – 65-0 is the UFC’s total-strikes stat!!
Freeman is also exhausted, lolloping all over the place. He drops to his knees right before the buzzer sounds, while Hokit walks away and flips him off, and the ref waves it off! Wow. An odd fight-ending visual, but Freeman was done to be fair.
O’Malley vs Yadong a tantalising co-main event
While we wait for this one to begin, the UFC is showing a video package on tonight’s co-main event, as Sean O’Malley fights Song Yadong and aims to bounce back from his two title-fight defeats by Merab Dvalishvili.
Since O’Malley lost the belt to the Georgian – and failed to regain it in their rematch – Dvalishvili has been dethroned by Petr Yan.
And O’Malley holds a (controversial) decision win over Yan, meaning a rematch between the pair could be on the cards if “Suga’ Sean” wins tonight.
UFC 324 live: Josh Hokit vs Denzel Freeman
Next up, it will be heavyweight action as Josh Hokit takes on Denzel Freeman.
Another all-American bout here, again featuring one unbeaten fighter.
Hokit, a former NFL squad member, is 7-0, while Freeman, a retired Marine Corps veteran, is 7-1.
And at 28, Hokit is six years younger than his compatriot.
UFC 324 live: Adam Fugitt vs Ty Miller
Another hiccough at the start of the Paramount+ era: ring announcer Bruce Buffer calls Miller by Fugitt’s name and vice versa... Anyway, we’re under way!
Round one
Lots of kicks from both men early on, with Miller favouring his right cross as well. Fugitt’s face is already red, courtesy of some of those rights but also some timely jabs.
Fugitt does some decent work in the clinch, and he needs to do more of that: close the range.
Miller is extending his combinations and almost landing his right cross at will. Fugitt lands a spinning back elbow out of nowhere, though, and Miller is cut!
But in the immediate aftermath, Miller drops Fugitt with a cross and pours on punches! Fugitt climbs to his feet but sustains more damage, and the ref steps in with one second left!
Victory for Miller on his UFC debut, and he secures the company’s first $25,000 finishing bonus.
UFC 324 live: Adam Fugitt vs Ty Miller
Tonight’s proceedings begin with a welterweight tilt between Adam Fugitt and Ty Miller!
This is an all-American clash, in which 25-year-old Miller is 12 years Fugitt’s junior.
Miller is unbeaten at 6-0 (1 No Contest), while Fugitt has been patchier at 10-5.
But will Fugitt’s experience pose any problems for the UFC debutant here?
UFC 324 prelims, moments away!
The first fight of the night should begin in a few moments!
A delayed start to tonight’s action courtesy of two cancelled fights: not the start to the Paramount+ era that the UFC will have wanted...
But that delay is almost up, and the action is imminent. This card should be a strong one, too.
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