Dana White unveiled an early batch of key UFC bookings for 2026, headlined by UFC 324 in Las Vegas and UFC 325 in Sydney. The announcements include Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett for the interim lightweight title, as well as Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes for the women’s bantamweight championship. Other notable pairings on the slate include Sean O’Malley vs. Song Yadong and Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Deiveson Figueiredo. The bookings help clarify several title-picture lanes and set up major implications for both the lightweight and bantamweight divisions.
Dana White has officially announced an early slate of major UFC bookings for 2026, highlighted by two high-profile title fights set for UFC 324 in Las Vegas and UFC 325 in Sydney.
The lightweight division takes center stage as Justin Gaethje meets Paddy Pimblett for the interim lightweight title. Pimblett, 31, enters the bout ranked sixth at lightweight carrying a 23-4 record. The Liverpool native, known as "The Baddy," fights out of an orthodox stance at five-foot-ten with a 73-inch reach. He produces an active 5.49 significant strikes per minute and attempts 1.2 submissions per 15 minutes, reflecting the well-rounded game that has carried him up the division.
The women's bantamweight championship is also on the line, as Amanda Nunes returns to face Kayla Harrison. Nunes, 38, holds a 23-5 record and remains one of the most accomplished fighters in UFC history. Fighting out of Brazil in an orthodox stance at five-foot-eight, "The Lioness" lands 4.55 significant strikes per minute at 51 percent accuracy and adds 2.73 takedowns per 15 minutes, underscoring the multi-dimensional threat she carries into any fight.
The slate also features Sean O'Malley against Song Yadong and a bantamweight clash between ranked contender Umar Nurmagomedov and former champion Deiveson Figueiredo. Nurmagomedov, 30, sits second in the bantamweight rankings with a 20-1 record. The Russian fights out of an orthodox stance at five-foot-eight with a 69-inch reach, landing 3.86 significant strikes per minute at a sharp 56 percent accuracy while averaging 4.03 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- The interim lightweight title fight between Gaethje and Pimblett could reshape the top of a crowded 155-pound division
- Nunes versus Harrison puts the women's bantamweight championship in one of the most anticipated matchups in the weight class
- Nurmagomedov versus Figueiredo adds another high-stakes bantamweight bout with title-picture implications
- The Sydney card signals continued UFC investment in the Australian market
Umar Nurmagomedov vs Song Yadong
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