UFC 324 Preview and Finest Bets: Sean O’Malley, and Extra

The Paramount period of the UFC formally begins this weekend, as UFC 324 takes place from the T-Cellular Enviornment in Las Vegas. Within the U.S., the pay-per-view days are performed, because the UFC’s presentation of UFC 324 might be introduced wall-to-wall completely on the Paramount+ app.

The principle occasion will see an interim light-weight champion topped, following Ilia Topuria’s latest step away from the Octagon to cope with a harsh custody battle. Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett will battle to find out the interim champion, who almost certainly will get the chance to unify with Topuria in both the spring or summer season.

After Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes fell off because of Harrison’s neck harm, the co-main occasion will characteristic Sean O’Malley seeking to rebound from back-to-back title combat losses, as he takes on Track Yadong.

The remainder of the principle card will characteristic a heavyweight conflict between Waldo Cortes-Acosta and Derrick Lewis, a flyweight bout between Natalia Silva and Rose Namajunas, and a featherweight conflict that includes Arnold Allen and Jean Silva.

Seven fights will make up the mixed prelim card (early and late prelims), topped by Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Deiveson Figueiredo.

SEAN O’MALLEY VS. SONG YADONG

This combat means quite a bit for Sean O’Malley — in actual fact, it will probably imply the whole lot.

O’Malley is coming off two losses for the primary time in his profession (and his second and third total), dropping the bantamweight title to Merab Dvalishvili and getting submitted within the rematch.

If O’Malley wins right here, he might already put himself one combat away from a title shot if Petr Yan retains the gold. If he loses, does he attempt to transfer as much as 145?

Track Yadong is just not a straightforward process. He’s been an underrated identify within the division and has received three of his final 4, together with a victory over Henry Cejudo at UFC Seattle final yr. Since 2022, Yadong’s solely losses have come towards Cory Sandhagen and Yan himself. If Yadong wins this combat, maybe he’s the one who will get a title eliminator bout subsequent.

That stated, O’Malley is a confirmed elite expertise on this division, and with additional fireplace beneath him, I doubt he loses to search out himself at a crossroads.

Wager: O’Malley To Win (Moneyline) (DraftKings: -205)

UMAR NURMAGOMEDOV VS. DEIVESON FIGUEIREDO

Umar Nurmagomedov was one spherical away from defeating Merab Dvalishvili and turning into bantamweight champion at the beginning of 2025. Aside from that comeback loss, he has been seemingly unstoppable within the Octagon, displaying that once more in his win over Mario Bautista at UFC 321. Just like the final identify implies, his grappling is dominant.

Deiveson Figueiredo had an enormous rebound his final day out in October, scoring a break up resolution over Montel Jackson. Figueiredo had come into that bout off two losses — although one was towards Yan and the opposite was the results of an harm. Possibly Figueiredo isn’t the fighter he was when he was flyweight champion and Fighter of the 12 months in 2020, however he’s nonetheless powerful, proficient, and able to giving Nurmagomedov an actual check.

Wager: Nurmagomedov vs. Figueiredo To Go The Distance (FanDuel: -142)

JOSH HOKIT VS. DENZEL FREEMAN

Josh Hokit is a blended bag. The former NFL participant appears to be what the UFC is in search of within the struggling heavyweight division, however not everybody within the UFC viewers buys into his schtick — particularly given its similarities to Colby Covington. That stated, he’s 7–0 and has scored finishes in each combat.

Denzel Freeman is likely to be a step up for Hokit. Freeman is 7–1 with expertise in PFL and LFA, the latter by which he was the heavyweight champion. A captain within the U.S. Marine Corps, Freeman might look to match Hokit’s grappling stress and brute energy.

Each fighters might make the most of grappling, however don’t get it twisted — that is nonetheless a heavyweight combat.

Wager: Battle To Finish Through KO/TKO/DQ (DraftKings & BetMGM: +150)