Dana White’s big Paramount+ announcement: Paddy Pimblett vs. Justin Gaethje to headline UFC 324 for interim Lightweight title in Las Vegas

Makes sense?!?!?!?

During the halftime show of NFL’s big Thanksgiving game between Dallas Cowboys vs. Kansas City Chiefs, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) CEO, Dana White, dropped a bombshell. The first main event of the Paramount+/CBS era is set: Justin Gaethje will collide with U.K.-based superstar, Paddy Pimblett, for the interim Lightweight title atop UFC 324, which will take place inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The odd announcement all but guarantees Ilia Topuria will have an opponent waiting when he returns in Spring 2026.

In the co-main event, women’s Bantamweight roost-ruler, Kayla Harrison, will face former UFC champion — and no longer-retired — Amanda Nunes in a long-anticipated showdown between ex-teammates.

In addition, several other bouts were announced during the broadcast, including Sean O’Malley vs. Song Yadong, Waldo Acosta-Cortez vs. Derrick Lewis and Jean Silva vs . Arnold Allen.

Gaethje (26-5) is apparently putting retirement talk on ice now that another crack at UFC gold is on the table … even if it’s interim gold. “The Highlight” bounced back from his viral knockout loss to Max Holloway at UFC 300, defeating Rafael Fiziev at UFC 317.

The 37-year-old is 3-1 in his last four fights, already a two-time UFC Lightweight title challenger, and now has the chance to become a two-time interim champion after first claiming the strap in 2020 against Tony Ferguson.

Pimblett (23-3), meanwhile, will make his first walk toward UFC gold after starting his career inside the Octagon at a perfect (7-0) clip. “The Baddy” is coming off the biggest win of his career, a third-round stoppage over Michael Chandler (watch highlights), which followed a first-round submission win over Tony Ferguson.

While fans have clamored for Topuria vs. Pimblett, the tension between Pimblett and Gaethje has been simmering — and now it gets the main-event spotlight to kick off 2026.

At long last, Harrison gets the fight she’s wanted.

The reigning Bantamweight queen (19-1) has basically obliterated every opponent she’s faced since joining UFC, winning the 135-pound title by submitting Julianna Pena with a brutal kimura in her most recent outing.

She’ll now welcome the return of Amanda Nunes (23-5), who briefly stepped away from the sport after cementing herself as the greatest women’s fighter in UFC history. A two-division champion with victories over eight former champions, “The Lioness” now aims to become a three-time Bantamweight titleholder.

Big stakes. Interesting matchups. The CBS/Paramount+ era is starting with an interesting bang!