More ranked contenders have been added to the first UFC card of 2026.
MMA’s leading promotion will kick off a new era in the new year, as the UFC bids farewell to ESPN and starts its journey on Paramount+.
After a sizable break, action will return to the Octagon on January 24, when Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena hosts UFC 324. Two title fights will headline, with Amanda Nunes’ return to challenge Kayla Harrison for the bantamweight gold setting the stage for Paddy Pimblett’s interim title fight with Justin Gaethje at 155 pounds.
Those four names are far from being the only notable fighters on the lineup for the UFC’s Paramount debut, and a recent addition has pushed the number of UFC 324 stars who have competed for a championship into double figures…
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What are your hopes and concerns for the UFC on Paramount+ era?
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Alex Perez becomes the tenth champion or former title challenger set to return at UFC 324
In addition to the lightweight and bantamweight stars who fill out the closing two fights at UFC 324, the card is also set to feature a host of former champions and ex-title challengers.
That includes former bantamweight king Sean O’Malley and a man who fell short of that status this year in Umar Nurmagomedov, heavyweight knockout artist Derrick Lewis, ex-flyweight champ Deiveson Figueiredo, and opponents Rose Namajunas and Alex Grasso.
Another fighter with experience competing for gold on MMA’s biggest stage has now joined the mix, with flyweight veteran Alex Perez set to make his return on January 24.
Perez was submitted by Figueiredo less than two minutes into their UFC 255 championship main event five years ago. Since then, the No. 11-ranked contender has lost four of his next five fights, including via submission against Asu Almabayev at UFC Qatar in November.
Per MMA Fighting’s Guilherme Cruz, the 33-year-old will now face the No. 13-ranked Charles Johnson at UFC 324.
‘InnerG’ has been among the promotion’s most active fighters, having competed 12 times since his debut in 2022. Johnson boosted his ‘prospect killer’ reputation by knocking out Lone’er Kavanagh last time out in a matchup many were frustrated that the ex-LFA champ was given.
He’s now finally earned his chance to fight up the ladder against a former flyweight title challenger, and a victory at UFC 324 could put Johnson on the cusp of the division’s top 10.
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- Paddy Pimblett vs Justin Gaethje – interim lightweight title fight
- Kayla Harrison vs Amanda Nunes – bantamweight title fight
- Sean O’Malley vs Song Yadong
- Derrick Lewis vs Waldo Cortes-Acosta
- Arnold Allen vs Jean Silva
- Rose Namajunas vs Alexa Grasso
- Umar Nurmagomedov vs Deiveson Figueiredo
- Alex Perez vs Charles Johnson
- Ateba Gautier vs Andrey Pulyaev
- Modestas Bukauskas vs Nikita Krylov
Does the first UFC-Paramount card live up to the hype? Let us know in the comments.
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Alexandre Pantoja defends his flyweight title at UFC 323
Before Perez and Johnson look to bring some flyweight flare to the first UFC event of 2026 and the Paramount era, the division’s best will be on display this Saturday night.
Alexandre Pantoja defends his title at UFC 323 on December 6, where the surging Joshua Van will await him inside the cage for the PPV co-main event.
Van has won five fights in a row since losing to Johnson, and earned his shot by defeating Bruno Silva and Brandon Royval at back-to-back numbered events earlier this year.
His challenge against ‘The Cannibal’ will come before Petr Yan looks to unseat the dominant Merab Dvalishvili from the bantamweight throne in the Georgian’s record-breaking fourth defense of 2025.
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