Man, what an exciting weekend for sports! We had our first UFC televised on Paramount+ with
an absolute epic card for the fans that did not disappoint for even one minute of the action.
Followed by Sunday playoffs filled with competitive, high-stakes games, and not a single one
was boring. Two whole days of fire to warm the dead of winter!
Now that we’ve had a chance to recover from the sports excitement hangover, I want to share
some thoughts pertaining to UFC 324. I mean, what can I say that hasn’t already been said about
that spectacular series of fights by every writer and reporter on the planet? Every fight could have
been its own article.
From the drama surrounding the match cancellation between lightweights Hernandez & Johnson
due to suspicious betting activity, the shocking (and also suspicious-looking) knockout of
Derrick Lewis, Thug Rose taking a last-minute match with the ferocious Natalia Silva fighting
for a title shot and just duking it out for 15 minutes straight, Sean O’Malley getting that W over
Song Yadong, who came with all the skills that could have made UFC 324 the last episode of the
Suga Show, all the prelim fights that were nonstop action by hungry fighters looking to move up
the ranks, and of course—The Baddy vs. The Highlight, Pimblett/Gaethje. That was insane!
It’s unusual when you watch a fight and want both opponents to win. And as far as I’m
concerned, they both did! Paddy with his first L in the UFC to Gaethje, who has gone from
controlled chaos to pure tactician. Paddy, who claims he was honored to have his first loss to
someone like Gaethje, proved to the haters that he’s capable of going five rounds, on his feet,
slugging it out with a striking powerhouse like Gaethje. And I have to say, that is one tough
Englishman with a jaw of steel. To be giggling and smiling the way he was after that fight proves
just how much he was made for the violence. It’s like playtime for him. No wonder I used to
think he was Irish. But Gaethje, congratulations on your interim belt. You absolutely earned it.
Thank you all for an insane day of UFC.
But there was something I noticed about UFC 324 that gave me such a warm and fuzzy feeling.
Firstly, I forgot it was being televised on Paramount+. I had some friends from the East Coast in
town that were staying in the Orange County area. I suggested we catch the fights and began
looking for a bar that we could post up in that wasn’t going to be a zoo. While I was online
searching dive bars in Westminster, I was reminded by an ad that I could simply tune in at home
with my Paramount+ subscription. What a relief! My friends were already mentally spent from
the NAMM show, and to be able to watch at the Airbnb WITHOUT paying nearly $90 and
having to have a subscription to ESPN+ was such a blessing. We just turned on the TV and
logged in. Easy breezy.
First thing I noticed was how smooth the production was. Little to no glitching or buffering that
was always happening on Pay Per View, and the entire flow moved from fight to fight with far
less downtime between matches. Viewers still received plenty of marketing, but it didn’t feel like
constant advertisements dragging the show out.
Then, at one point, one of my friends said, “Imagine the kids getting to watch this for the first
time because it’s accessible.” And that got me thinking of all the lower-income kids that never
got to watch fights and couldn’t share excitement with their more privileged friends when they
got to school on Monday. Let’s face it, in this economy, if your parents are buying the Pay Per
View on Saturday night, that’s privileged. It warmed my heart to think of all the new fans—the
kids that got fired up to be more athletic, the ones that have a new interest in sports and possibly
martial arts training, the ones that get to join the conversation about the fights because they saw
them in real time. But what made me the happiest was imagining the ones that got to spend some
quality time with their family because parents could make some inexpensive party food at home
and turn on their usual streaming service that they’re probably already paying just $13.99 per
month, and watch the fights together in the safety and comfort of their own home. For reason
alone, UFC on Paramount+ was the best move in sports that I’ve ever witnessed. Bravo!
But there was something else I noticed after the fights were over. I’m someone who always
watched the fights away from home. It never made sense to order a Pay Per View for just me, so
I usually would be at a bar or a watch party of some kind to watch the big UFC matches. So I’m
used to limiting what I drink and making sure to leave before the crowds so I could avoid as
many drunk drivers on the road as possible. The Airbnb was about 45 minutes from my house, so
as soon as the fights were over, I instinctively said my goodbyes and headed home.
I was mentally on my toes! That entire day of fights was pure adrenaline; I just knew people
were going to be wild on the road.
I had some big freeway miles to cover. If you know anything about Southern California
freeways, 405S to the 55N to the 91E are known for traffic any time of day. Saturday night, on a
big fight night, is usually as crowded as Monday morning. No exaggeration. But to my surprise,
the freeways were empty. Every lane in every direction—clear. I felt so safe driving home on a
UFC event night that had previously been a cause for an influx of traffic and drunk drivers on the
road. It was incredible. Not one weaver, road rager, or drunk speeder did I see (which was
common on UFC nights) over three major freeways. The roads were empty. It was so obvious to
me that the majority of fans stayed home in style and comfort to watch the action live from their
own couches. Another huge win for UFC and Paramount+!
Because of the convenience and affordability of UFC on Paramount+, I just know that many
lives were spared that night, families and friends were brought closer together, and new UFC
fans were born. Not to mention, the new fans can go back and catch up on the best fights of the
past that have been specially curated by UFC and Paramount+ as part of the content library.
Everything about the move has been nothing but positive. Even the fighters’ bonuses increased!
Come on! So many new reasons to love the UFC organization. As an introvert that loves privacy
and the comfort of my own home, I cannot wait to scream at my own TV for the next UFC
fights. 2026 is already an exciting year