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UFC 324: Pereira Challenges Harrison, Nunes Makes Return!

1/6/2026

25 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

Pereira Returns, Challenges

Alex Pereira will come out of retirement to challenge Kayla Harrison for the women's bantamweight title at UFC 324 on January 24, 2026.
This matchup signals Amanda Nunes's return after retirement in 2023.
Islam Makhachev's potential bout with Ilia Topuria is delayed by Topuria's legal issues, pushing it to late 2026.
Jon Jones is expected to return to face Tom Aspinall, adding to a 2026 schedule poised to redefine UFC.

History

Historical Context

UFC 200, held on July 9, 2016, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, marked a significant milestone in mixed martial arts, drawing over 18,000 fans. This event showcased the sport's evolution since UFC 100 in 2009, which had previously set records with 1.6 million pay-per-view buys. The resurgence of fighters like Amanda Nunes reflects the UFC's dynamic growth and mainstream acceptance.

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Pereira Returns, Challenges

Alex Pereira will come out of retirement to challenge Kayla Harrison for the women's bantamweight title at UFC 324 on January 24, 2026.
This matchup signals Amanda Nunes's return after retirement in 2023.
Islam Makhachev's potential bout with Ilia Topuria is delayed by Topuria's legal issues, pushing it to late 2026.
Jon Jones is expected to return to face Tom Aspinall, adding to a 2026 schedule poised to redefine UFC.

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