Imagine two fighters stepping into the cage, an up-and-coming underdog, going against a legend that has been around for decades. UFC 324 took place last weekend in Nevada, and that is exactly what fans got, giving them the action they had been missing. Fans were highly anticipating this event because it was the first UFC card available on the streaming service Paramount+, making UFC more accessible than ever and ushering in a new era. With a stacked card full of fan favorites, UFC 324 delivered nonstop excitement and sparked major controversy throughout the UFC community.

The main event of this card was headlined by Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett, two fan favorites known for being extremely entertaining in the UFC. Lasting an astounding twenty-five minutes across all five rounds, the fight was mostly controlled by Justin, while Paddy displayed a respectable amount of endurance and heart. After some debatable eye pokes and low shots, Gaethje took the victory and received the interim lightweight championship belt. The fight is receiving very mixed opinions, with some saying Paddy would have had a better shot without the eye pokes. In a post-fight interview, he says, “The only thing that’s wrong with me is my eyeball,s” but regardless, Justin has solidified himself as a top contender and is scheduled for the title shot against Ilia Topuria in the near future.

Shortly before the main card, fans were anxious to see the return of former bantamweightchampion Sean O’Malley in his fight against Song Yadong. After losing his championship belt
and facing some setbacks, Fans were counting on a strong performance to get Sean back in thegame. After a close three-round fight, Sean gave fans what they were hoping for and delivered a win by unanimous decision. This victory brings O’Malley back into the conversation, and hopefully, fans will see him fighting again soon.

While fans look forward to upcoming events in the coming weeks, the UFC is doing better than ever. With countless fights set up to keep fans engaged and excited, the switch to Paramount+ has made the sport much more accessible than before. With just an eight-dollar subscription, fans can tune in to every fight card that used to cost upwards of eighty dollars per fight, making it much more affordable for youth and families. This expands the fanbase and potential fans by a large margin. Although some were unhappy with the frequent ad
interruptions, Dana White said it was “still a work in progress” after the UFC 324 press conference. Although many say they don’t mind a few ads and prefer the switch.

What is the future of the UFC, and why should you care? UFC 324 was just the start for the incredible events that will take place this year. New and old contenders keep shaking up the sport, creating matchups fans cannot wait to see. Justin Gaethje is set to fight Ilia Topuria sometime this year for the Lightweight belt, not long after the long-awaited rematch of Charles Oliveira and Max Holloway for the UFC 326 main event on March 7th. As events keep lining up and excitement grows among long-time fans and new viewers on Paramount, accessibility and hype are at an all-time high, and now is one of the best times to get into the
sport.