(Photo credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images)

The UFC will kick off its new partnership with Paramount+ with a bout between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett for the interim lightweight championship on Jan. 24 at UFC 324 in Las Vegas.

UFC CEO Dana White announced the matchup Thursday at halftime of the Dallas Cowboys-Kansas City Chiefs game on CBS. White also revealed that the co-main event on Jan. 24 will feature Kayla Harrison defending her bantamweight title against ex-champion Amanda Nunes.

The new deal with Paramount+ will make all UFC cards available to the streaming service's subscribers in the United States and Latin America. It marks a change from the promotion's previous strategy of selling marquee events on a pay-per-view basis.

'Saturday, January 24th in Las Vegas kicks off this incredible partnership with Paramount,' White said in a statement. 'I am so excited for UFC fans that our first card has six current and former champions, including the long-awaited return of the greatest female fighter of all time -- which is definitely the biggest women's fight ever. ...

'This deal is such a huge win for fans with no more pay-per-view. I look forward to 2026 being our best year ever.'

Cindy Holland, Paramount's chair of direct-to-consumer, added in a statement, 'Paramount+ and UFC are transforming the mixed martial arts fan experience. Every division of Paramount is working in concert to ensure maximum visibility and unparalleled accessibility to current and future fans -- making Paramount+ the definitive home of UFC.'

Gaethje (26-5) and Pimblett (23-3) will compete to hold the title that Ilia Topuria (17-0) is ceding temporarily.

'I won't be fighting in the first quarter of next year,' Topuria tweeted. 'I'm going through a difficult moment in my personal life. I want to focus on my children and resolve this situation as soon as possible. I don't want to hold up the division. The UFC will make the matchups needed, and as soon as the matters are resolved I'll let the UFC know I'm ready to begin my return.'

Nunes (23-5) previously held the UFC featherweight and bantamweight title belts, but the 37-year-old hasn't competed since successfully defending the latter crown in June 2023. She vacated that championship weeks later when she announced a retirement that will end in January.

Harrison (19-1) captured the bantamweight title in June 2025 with a submission win over Julianna Pena.

--Field Level Media