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when do paddy and justin fight

Paddy (Paddy Pimblett) and Justin (Justin Gaethje) are scheduled to fight at UFC 324, with the bout taking place on Saturday, 24 January 2026, as the main event in Las Vegas for the interim UFC lightweight title.

Quick Scoop: When do Paddy and Justin fight?

Event basics

  • Event name: UFC 324 – Gaethje vs Pimblett.
  • Date: Saturday, 24 January 2026 (local event date in Las Vegas). The wider coverage and live blogs list it as the big UFC card of that night.
  • Location: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
  • Stakes: Interim UFC lightweight title, with the winner positioned for a shot at undisputed champion Ilia Topuria after his return.

Start time details

Different outlets list the schedule in slightly different time zones, but they agree on the structure:

  • Early prelims start around 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT.
  • Main card starts at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.
  • Gaethje vs Pimblett is the main event, so their walkouts are expected later in the main card window, typically around:
    • Roughly 11 p.m.–12 a.m. ET (depending on how long earlier fights go).
    • Roughly 8 p.m.–9 p.m. PT in Las Vegas local time.

Because fight-night timing always depends on earlier bouts, all times are approximate, but you can safely think of it as “late evening main event in Vegas on Jan 24, 2026.”

Why it’s such a big deal

  • Paddy Pimblett comes in as a surging fan favorite, with a long UFC win streak and big-name scalps that have built his hype.
  • Justin Gaethje is a seasoned former interim champion and renowned knockout artist, known for violent, bonus-winning fights.
  • The fight headlines UFC 324, which is also notable as one of the first major events under a massive new broadcast deal, adding even more spotlight.

Mini timeline (fight night)

  1. Early prelims: begin late afternoon U.S. time (around 5 p.m. ET).
  1. Regular prelims: roll into the evening.
  2. Main card: starts at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.
  1. Paddy vs Justin: final bout of the night, expected near midnight on the U.S. East Coast, late evening in Las Vegas.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.