On the debut event of UFC’s new broadcast era on Paramount+, Justin Gaethje emerged victorious to claim the interim lightweight title after an intense battle against Paddy Pimblett. The fight showcased Gaethje’s dominance with two knockdowns and three takedowns, while Pimblett absorbed multiple power shots and landed a higher volume of significant strikes, narrowly losing the unanimous decision. This victory marks Gaethje’s second reign as interim lightweight champion and positions him for a unification bout with reigning champion Ilia Topuria.
The UFC 324 main card produced several notable results beyond Gaethje’s win:
- Justin Gaethje defeated Paddy Pimblett by unanimous decision (48-47, 49-46, 49-46).
- Sean O’Malley prevailed over Song Yadong via unanimous decision (29-28 on all scorecards).
- Waldo Cortes-Acosta stopped Derrick Lewis with a second-round TKO.
- Natalia Silva earned a unanimous decision win against Rose Namajunas (29-28 across the board).
- Jean Silva beat Arnold Allen unanimously (30-27, 29-28, 29-28).
Additionally, Umar Nurmagomedov secured a win over Deiveson Figueiredo during the featured preliminaries but fell short of the dominant showing many anticipated in his pursuit of bantamweight champion Petyr Yan.
Notable Freshman Performances and College Basketball Highlights
The weekend featured historic freshman achievements in college basketball, headlined by Keaton Wagler’s 46-point effort leading No. 11 Illinois to an upset victory over No. 4 Purdue on the road. Kingston Flemings also scored 42 points in a losing effort as No. 6 Houston fell to No. 12 Texas Tech, while AJ Dybantsa exploded for 43 points in BYU’s dominating win against Utah. This marked the first time in at least three decades that three freshmen scored 40 or more points on the same day.
Other noteworthy college basketball developments included:
- No. 18 Kansas managed a decisive 86-62 victory against Kansas State in their Sunflower Showdown rivalry, despite Darryn Peterson missing his tenth game of the season.
- Missouri pulled off a dramatic win against Oklahoma with two buzzer-beaters, one to send the game into overtime and another to claim the victory.
- Charles Bediako returned to college basketball for No. 17 Alabama, tallying 13 points over 25 minutes in a loss to Tennessee. Alabama coach Nate Oats defended the decision to play Bediako, a former professional, but acknowledged that Bediako’s return highlights “a clearly broken” NCAA system.
Florida coach Todd Golden commented on the ongoing changes in college basketball’s structure, stating,
“We just need some people to stand up and start taking a stand.”
Meanwhile, Alabama’s fans embraced Bediako’s return despite the controversy, reflecting the shifting landscape of collegiate sports.
Additional Sports Stories from the Weekend
Several other significant sports developments occurred over the weekend across multiple disciplines:
- Fernando Mendoza announced his decision to enter the NFL Draft and is considered a top contender for the No. 1 overall pick.
- LSU strengthened its already top-ranked transfer portal class by securing star offensive lineman Jordan Seaton, a leading tackle prospect and the No. 4 recruit in the cycle.
- Texas quarterback Arch Manning underwent minor foot surgery but is expected to participate in spring practice without any setbacks.
- Eric Bieniemy reunited with the Kansas City Chiefs as offensive coordinator, while Jonathan Gannon accepted the defensive coordinator role with the Green Bay Packers as part of an active assistant coaching carousel.
- In college football, Gary Patterson was hired as USC’s defensive coordinator, and Ohio State named Arthur Smith as its new offensive coordinator, continuing significant staff shifts.
- Scottie Scheffler captured the American Express title, becoming just the third player alongside Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus to achieve 20 PGA Tour wins and four major championships before age 30.
- Callum Walsh defeated Carlos Ocampo by unanimous decision at the inaugural Zuffa Boxing event held on Paramount+.
- LeBron James dismissed reports of frustrations expressed by Lakers executive Jeanie Buss regarding his role on the team.
- Bo Nix is expected to miss approximately 12 weeks following ankle surgery.
- Major league baseball saw the White Sox add closer candidate Seranthony Domínguez; Craig Kimbrel signed with the Mets; and José Ramírez neared an extension with the Cleveland Guardians.
- Clemson’s Dabo Swinney criticized Ole Miss coach Pete Golding following allegations of tampering with transfer Luke Ferrelli, intensifying scrutiny on NCAA enforcement actions.
- The Chicago Bulls honored Derrick Rose by retiring his No. 1 jersey, celebrating his impact as a franchise icon.
- Packers offensive lineman Rasheed Walker was arrested at New York’s LaGuardia Airport after attempting to check baggage containing a handgun and ammunition.
- Dominick Cruz was announced as the first member of the 2026 UFC Hall of Fame class.
- Play was suspended at the Australian Open due to extreme heat, affecting American player Eliot Spizzirri and permitting a comeback by Jannik Sinner in their third-round match.
- US Women’s National Team forward Trinity Rodman made a striking return by scoring in a 6-0 victory over Paraguay shortly after signing the largest contract in women’s soccer history.
- After winning the Dubai Desert Classic, Patrick Reed indicated a potential return to the PGA Tour remains a possibility.
- At WWE’s Saturday Night’s Main Event, Sami Zayn defeated Randy Orton, Damian Priest, and Trick Williams, securing himself a world title match against Drew McIntyre at the upcoming Royal Rumble.
- In women’s college basketball, No. 16 Oklahoma upset No. 2 South Carolina led by freshman standout Aaliyah Chavez, whose 26-point performance positioned her as a Freshman of the Year candidate. The Gamecocks later ended No. 5 Vanderbilt’s unbeaten season.
- European soccer saw Inter Milan extend their Serie A lead as Napoli struggle with injuries and AS Roma continue their climb in form.
- The Tour Down Under cycling race experienced chaos when kangaroos caused a crash, impacting the eventual winner and other competitors.
- Miami linebacker Mohamed Toure revealed plans to extend his college football career through 2026, aiming for an unprecedented eight seasons.
- Duke University and Darian Mensah entered discussions for a potential out-of-court settlement over their ongoing dispute.
- Women’s college basketball analysts updated their predictions for award winners and Final Four participants.
- Buffalo Bills fans launched a petition with over 75,000 signatures urging the team to re-hire head coach Sean McDermott, while Philip Rivers was interviewed for the position.
- Washington Wizards general manager Michael Winger stated he has no regrets over trading breakout star Deni Avdija to the Portland Trail Blazers.
- The NCAA approved new rules allowing jersey patches and other commercial sponsorships on college athletic uniforms and equipment.
- UFC President Dana White announced an increase in performance bonuses and introduced a new award recognizing knockouts and submissions.
Upcoming Sports Events to Watch on Monday
Monday’s schedule features a variety of games and contests across multiple sports for fans to follow:
- Soccer: Udinese vs. Hellas Verona at 2:45 p.m. on Paramount+
- Soccer: Leeds United vs. Everton at 3 p.m. on USA Network
- Basketball: Orlando Magic vs. Cleveland Cavaliers at 7 p.m. on NBC Sports Network
- Hockey: Boston Bruins vs. New York Rangers at 7 p.m. on NHL Network
- Men’s College Basketball: No. 23 Louisville vs. No. 5 Duke at 7 p.m. on ESPN
- Women’s College Basketball: No. 17 Tennessee vs. No. 18 Ole Miss at 7 p.m. on ESPNU
- Golf: Boston Common Golf Club vs. The Bay Golf Club at 7 p.m. on ESPN2
- Basketball: Portland Trail Blazers vs. Boston Celtics at 8 p.m. on Peacock
- Women’s College Basketball: Florida vs. No. 6 LSU at 8 p.m. on SEC Network
- Men’s College Basketball: No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 13 BYU at 9 p.m. on ESPN
- Tennis: Australian Open quarterfinals at 9 p.m. on ESPN2
- Basketball: Golden State Warriors vs. Minnesota Timberwolves at 9:30 p.m. on NBC Sports Network
