Who will fight Ilia Topuria later this year? That will be settled when the interim lightweight championship bout between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett, scheduled for five rounds, takes place Saturday, January 24 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Gaethje, 37, will enter his fourth UFC title bout having won three of his past four fights, coming off a unanimous decision win over Rafael Fiziev last March. His previous title appearances came against Tony Ferguson (interim), Khabib Nurmagomedov, and Charles Oliveira (vacant). With a win at UFC 323, Gaethje would become the first two-time interim champion in UFC history.
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Pimblett, 31, burst onto the UFC scene in 2021 and has taken the slow road to his first title appearance after going 7-0 in the UFC. Pimblett owns wins over notable veterans Tony Ferguson, King Green and Michael Chandler in his most recent three fights. His win over Chandler came by third-round TKO last April.
More: UFC 324 pre-event facts: Justin Gaethje can make interim title history
According to UFC CEO Dana White, the winner of Gaethje vs. Pimblett will unify the title later this year with 155-pound champ Topuria, who is taking time off to deal with a family matter after his ex-wife accused him of domestic abuse.
Here are the walkout times for the UFC 324 main event between Gaethje and Pimblett.
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When does the UFC 324 fight card start?
The UFC 323 lineup consists of 12 fights. Early prelims start at 5 p.m. ET, prelims at 7 p.m. ET, and the main card at 9 p.m. ET.
Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett walkout time
As the main event, Gaethje and Pimblett are expected to make their walks to the octagon at approximately 11:15 p.m. ET.
The fight streams on Paramount+, as does the entire card for anyone with a subscription.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett start time at UFC 324
