The long-awaited 2026 UFC debut is finally upon us, and the promotion returns in grand fashion with an Interim Lightweight title bout headlining the card. But way before the Justin Gaethje (No. 4) vs. Paddy Pimblett (No. 5) main event, we have a stacked preliminary card scheduled. Below, I'll break down three fights from the prelims, laying out my top bets for the event. Here are my favorite UFC 324 prelims bets for Saturday, January 24th.
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UFC 324 Prelims Card Picks & Bets
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Umar Nurmagomedov (-1450) vs. Deiveson Figueiredo (+850)
The prelims wrap up with a top-10 fight in the Bantamweight Division, as Umar Nurmagomedov (No.2) looks to secure his second consecutive victory, following a failed attempt at the 135-pound championship last January. Nurmagomedov is a massive -1450 Moneyline favorite to take care of Deiveson Figueiredo (No. 6), who snapped a two-fight slide last time out.
As a Figueiredo guy, it pains me to see him entering Saturday's event as a +850 underdog. But at the same time, I also don't think he has any chance to win this fight. Nurmagomedov is just in too good a form right now.
Nurmagomedov is solid in all aspects of MMA, bringing in a 79% takedown defense rate, while also getting hit by only 40% of opposing strikes. He's absorbing only 2.04 significant strikes per minute, so I'd also rule out a fluky Figueiredo knockout as a possible route to victory for the former Flyweight champ.
Nurmagomedov has the reach advantage (69 inches vs. 68 inches) and the height advantage (5-foot-8 vs. 5-foot-5). Being that he's always moving forward and pressuring his opponent, it just doesn't bode well for Figueiredo. Nurmagomedov's last four fights have gone the distance, and Figueiredo definitely won't go easy, so I ultimately like the Dagestani brawler to win by decision.
Bet: Umar Nurmagomedov to Win by Decision (-135)
Nikita Krylov (+124) vs. Modestas Bukauskas (-148)
Modestas Bukauskas has rattled off four straight victories, and he'll be looking to crack into the top 15 on Saturday when he takes on Nikita Krylov. The unranked brawler is a -148 Moneyline favorite in this Light Heavyweight showdown.
After a rough 1-3 start to his UFC career, Modestas Bukauskas is getting settled in with the promotion. He has picked up wins in six of his last seven outings. I'll back him on Saturday night, and I'm going to take a plus-money shot on him to win by knockout. The Baltic Gladiator brings in a 19-6 professional record, with 11 of those victories coming by knockout. He has two knockouts in his last three fights.
You can probably make the case that Nikita Krylov is the better overall fighter. Unfortunately, it appears that his chin is gone. That's not ideal when fighting in the 205-pound division, where guys often pack a heavy punch. Krylov enters riding back-to-back first-round knockout defeats, and he has been finished in seven of his nine UFC losses. Additionally, The Miner has a questionable 44% strike defense rate, meaning 56% of his opponents' strikes are landing. These fighters are trending in opposite directions, and I'll back the heavy-handed Bukauskas to secure the knockout win.
Bet: Modestas Bukauskas to Win by KO/TKO/DQ (+120)
Alex Perez (+150) vs. Charles Johnson (-180)
The early 324 UFC prelims wrap up with an intriguing Flyweight contest between Alex Perez (No. 11) and Charles Johnson (No. 13). Johnson, who is in the midst of a 5-1 UFC run, is nearly a 2-to-1 favorite to secure the victory. Perez comes back at +150 to get his hand raised.
Perez hasn't looked great recently, dropping five of his last six fights. However, he has fought some monsters during the six-fight stretch, losing to guys like Deiveson Figueiredo, Alexandre Pantoja and Tatsuro Taira.
Still, I don't think Perez will have what it takes to bounce back against an elite striker of Johnson's caliber. I'll lay the juice and back Johnson to pick up his sixth victory in seven tries. During his current 5-1 run, Johnson has a notable win over current champion Joshua Van, where he knocked him out in the third round. This is one of eight knockouts across his 18-7 professional career.
Johnson boasts a respectable 66% takedown defense rate, so I believe he'll be able to keep this fight vertical, which ultimately gives him the edge. He's averaging 4.73 significant strikes per minute and also has a strike defense rate of 56%. Give me Johnson to secure the victory.
Bet: Charles Johnson Moneyline (-180)
