UFC 324! Finally MMA Is Back!!!

UFC 324! Finally MMA Is Back!!!

Author: Sean Ryan January 24, 2026 Duration: 13:20

UFC is finally back, and it’s been a long six weeks. In this episode, I break down UFC 324 from top to bottom, starting with the early prelims and working all the way to the interim title fight. I go through the matchups that actually matter, the fights worth paying attention to, and which ones feel like guaranteed chaos.

On the prelims, I highlight sneaky fun fights like Ricky Turcios vs Cameron Smotherman, why Michael Johnson is always dangerous as an underdog, and why Ateba Gautier might be one of the scariest prospects in the sport right now. I also break down Umar Nurmagomedov vs Deiveson Figueiredo and why that fight likely comes down to whether Figueiredo can land early.

On the main card, I get into Arnold Allen vs Jean Silva, Natalia Silva vs Rose Namajunas, and why flyweight just isn’t Rose’s division anymore. We also get into one of the most entertaining heavyweight matchups possible with Derrick Lewis vs Waldo Cortes-Acosta — two guys who sell fights better than almost anyone in the division.

Finally, I give full predictions for Sean O’Malley vs Song Yadong and the interim title fight between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett, including how Paddy actually wins if this fight hits the ground. No fake hype, no narrative pushing — just real breakdowns, matchup logic, and honest picks.

🥊 UFC 324 Segment – Chapter Timestamps (starts at 0:00)

0:00 UFC is finally back (ESPN → Paramount, long break)

0:45 Prelims overview & fights to watch

1:20 Ty Miller vs Adam Fugitt

1:55 Ricky Turcios vs Cameron Smotherman (high pace)

2:45 Josh Hockett vs Denzel Freeman (early KO talk)

3:25 Michael Johnson vs Alexander Hernandez

4:40 Alex Perez vs Charles Johnson

5:45 Krylov vs Bukauskas (which version shows up?)

6:50 Ateba Gautier vs Andre (lock of the card)

8:30 Umar Nurmagomedov vs Figueiredo preview

9:50 Arnold Allen vs Jean Silva

10:45 Natalia Silva vs Rose Namajunas

11:30 Derrick Lewis vs Waldo Cortes-Acosta

12:10 O’Malley vs Song Yadong

12:40 Gaethje vs Paddy Pimblett pick

13:00 Final UFC thoughts

Questions that I answer

Is UFC 324 worth watching?

Who should you watch on the UFC 324 prelims?

Is Ateba Gautier the scariest prospect in UFC?

Can Umar Nurmagomedov lose before a title shot?

Is Rose Namajunas done at flyweight?

Who wins Derrick Lewis vs Waldo Cortes-Acosta?

Does Sean O’Malley lose to Song Yadong?

Can Paddy Pimblett actually beat Justin Gaethje?

Is Gaethje past his prime?

What’s the best bet on UFC 324?

Episode 6 Segments

6.1 - College Football - National Championship Game!! A Beautiful End to a Fairy Tale Story

6.2 - NFL - Sloppiest NFL Divisional Round Ever Ryan Clark Needs to Stop

6.3 - UFC - UFC 324! Finally MMA Is Back!!!

6.4 - MLB - Have the Dodgers ruined MLB???


Sean Ryan knows that in sports, everyone's got a favorite team or fighter, and that passion can color the whole story. That's where SPR Sports News comes in. Instead of adding to the noise with quick reactions, this podcast slows things down. Each week, Sean digs into the defining stories from the NFL, MLB, and UFC, pulling threads from the past and weaving them with today's statistics to show you a clearer picture. You'll hear how a decades-old franchise decision might be influencing this season's playoff run, or how a fighter's evolving style traces back to a classic bout. It's a blend of context and current events, delivered with a sense that understanding the "why" makes the game so much richer. The result is a thoughtful, engaging breakdown that feels more like a compelling conversation than a standard news report. For anyone tired of surface-level takes and looking for substance behind the scores, this is a weekly listen that connects the dots.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 15

SPR Sports News
Podcast Episodes
UFC BMF DONE?!? MMA has a new competitive company! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:41
On this episode of the SPR Sports News Podcast, Sean Ryan breaks down UFC 326 and the BMF title fight between Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira. The fight delivered a surprising result and raised major questions about wh…
UFC 326 BMF!! (Baddest MotherFlipper Belt) And other MMA Topics! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:14
On this episode of the SPR Sports News Podcast, Sean Ryan breaks down the UFC 326 card, analyzing stylistic matchups and predicting how several of the biggest fights might play out.The show opens with the World Baseball…
Should Sean Strickland be Cancelled? (in the UFC) And More! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:54
This week on the SPR Sports News Podcast, Sean Ryan breaks down a surprisingly loaded fight card headlined by Sean Strickland vs. Anthony Hernandez at UFC Fight Night: Strickland vs. Hernandez. What looks like a “slow sp…
From Bust to Champion - The Most Unlikely Story [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:28
Episode 9: From Bust to Champion – The Most Unlikely StoryIn Episode 9 of SPR Sports News, Sean Ryan breaks down one of the most fascinating championship arcs in recent memory—how the Seattle Seahawks dominated the New E…
The Superbowl is here! Old Volk does it Again [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:12
The Super Bowl is finally here, and for once it’s not the matchup anyone had penciled in back in August. I break down Seahawks vs Patriots without forcing a narrative — who actually has the pressure, why Sam Darnold’s ru…
Have the Dodgers Ruined the MLB??? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:45
In this segment, I shift to Major League Baseball and break down two moves that say a lot about where the league is right now — and where some teams are completely dropping the ball. I start with the Yankees backing off…
Sloppiest NFL Divisional Round Ever Ryan Clark Needs to Stop [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:19
Episode 6.2 of the SPR Sports News Podcast shifts fully into the NFL — and it’s not pretty. Sean Ryan breaks down what may have been the sloppiest Divisional Round weekend in recent memory, filled with brutal quarterback…
National Championship Game!! A Beautiful End to a Fairy Tale Story [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:29
The college football season ends with a national championship that feels impossible on paper and unforgettable on the field. In Episode 6.1 of the SPR Sports News Podcast, Sean Ryan breaks down Indiana’s perfect 16–0 sea…
National Championship, NFL Division round, and UFC 324 OH MY!!! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:58
Welcome back to SPR Sports News. This episode is a full breakdown of a wild sports weekend, starting with a chaotic opening round of the NFL playoffs where most games came down to the final drive. I walk through what act…