Prelim Results From UFC 324
By Nick Fratto
Ateba Gautier def Andrey Pulyaev via UD (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Gautier Survives Tough Test
Ateba Gautier entered his bout against Pulyaev as a heavy favorite, riding an eight-fight winning streak and looking to secure his ninth consecutive victory. Pulyaev, meanwhile, was coming off a rebound performance, having suffered a loss in his UFC debut before scoring an impressive head-kick knockout over Nick Klein. Both fighters are graduates of Dana White’s Contender Series.
Gautier started the fight in explosive fashion, landing powerful punches and dropping Pulyaev early in the opening round. He continued to apply pressure with heavy shots, appearing on the verge of ending the contest. However, as the first round progressed, momentum subtly shifted as Pulyaev began to find his range and land his own strikes. Entering the fight, Gautier’s total cage time across his career stood at just 6:23, and Pulyaev forced him into uncharted territory by pushing the bout into the second round.
In Round 2, Gautier resumed his aggressive approach, once again flooring Pulyaev on multiple occasions with hard shots. Despite being knocked down, Pulyaev displayed remarkable durability, absorbing the punishment and continuing to fire back. His resilience paid dividends late in the round as he landed cleanly, leaving Gautier with a bloody nose by the end of the frame.
The third round drew a chorus of boos from the crowd as the pace slowed compared to the frenetic opening two rounds. However, the reaction seemed unwarranted given the context of the fight. What many expected to be a swift and brutal knockout by Gautier instead turned into a technical, hard-fought contest. Pulyaev’s toughness was on full display, while Gautier proved he could go the distance under pressure.
When the final horn sounded, Gautier had secured a hard-earned victory, improving to 10-1. Though he fell short of the highlight-reel finish many anticipated, the performance demonstrated his ability to adapt and endure, while Pulyaev earned respect for his grit and refusal to go away.
Nikita Krylov def Modestas Bukauskas via KO 4:57 Round 3
Krylov Stops Bukauskas in Thrilling Third-Round Finish
One of the closest matchups of the night on paper and across betting lines lived up to its intrigue as Nikita Krylov faced Modestas Bukauskas in a highly anticipated light heavyweight clash.
Krylov, known for his karate-based striking and penchant for stoppages, entered the bout looking to add to the 27 finishes already on his résumé. Bukauskas, who recently joined Tom Aspinall’s camp, aimed to showcase a new dimension to his fighting style and prove his evolution inside the Octagon.
The bout became the first fight of the night to extend beyond the opening round, and it did not disappoint. Both fighters displayed a high level of technical skill. Krylov mixed in multiple kicks, heavy punches, and clinch work against the outside of the fence, while Bukauskas appeared the crisper puncher in open exchanges. Each man absorbed and delivered significant shots, yet neither showed any inclination to retreat, pressing forward throughout the contest.
The third round initially looked as though it would mirror the previous two, with both fighters trading and jockeying for momentum. However, the bout took a sudden turn when Bukauskas launched a wild flurry of punches. Krylov countered with a perfectly timed right hand that dropped Bukauskas flat on the canvas. Krylov followed up with two more hard right hands before referee Marc Goddard stepped in to stop the fight just moments before the final bell.
With the victory, Krylov added another highlight-reel stoppage to his career, while Bukauskas showed flashes of his evolving style despite the setback.
Alex Perez def Charles Johnson via TKO Round 1 3:16
Perez Revives Career With Dominant TKO Win Over Johnson in Flyweight Clash
An intriguing matchup in the UFC flyweight division unfolded as former title challenger Alex Perez looked to resurrect his career against one of the division’s most active fighters, Charles Johnson. Johnson entered the bout riding strong momentum, having won five of his last six fights, and was aiming to continue his rapid climb up the rankings while earning greater recognition within the division.
The two fighters met in the center of the octagon at the opening bell, initially feeling each other out before settling into a striking battle. Perez mixed in sharp low kicks and quick combination bursts, while Johnson responded with high kicks, counterpunches, and his trademark unorthodox attacks.
The turning point came when Perez landed a massive left hand that sent Johnson crashing to the canvas. Although Johnson managed to survive the knockdown and continue, he never fully recovered. Perez kept the pressure on, unloading a relentless series of knees and uppercuts before ultimately landing another left hook that dropped Johnson for a second time. Referee Jason Herzog stepped in to stop the fight, awarding Perez the victory by TKO.
Josh Hokit def Denzel Freeman via TKO Round 1 4:59
One of the most anticipated matchups on the prelim card lived up to the hype as Hokit and Freeman squared off in a bout many expected would not go the distance. Both fighters entered the octagon with impressive résumés inside and outside the sport—Hokit a former collegiate football player and All-American wrestler, and Freeman a former U.S. Marine. From the opening moments, it was clear this fight would be anything but slow-paced.
At the opening bell, Hokit charged across the octagon swinging before quickly transitioning into a takedown. The early portion of the bout resembled a wrestling match, with Hokit asserting his grappling pedigree. Midway through the round, Freeman worked his way back to his feet, but not before absorbing a barrage of punches capped off by a well-timed uppercut that sent him crashing to the canvas.
While on the ground, Hokit showed little interest in hunting for a submission, instead focusing on finishing the fight via strikes. Freeman managed to return to his feet with under a minute remaining in the round, but he was met with more punishment. Hokit landed a shot to the top of the head followed by a crushing knee to the liver, leaving Freeman visibly wobbly and clearly unable to continue. The referee stepped in at the bell to stop the fight, awarding Hokit the victory by first-round TKO.
Tyler Miller def Adam Fugitt via TKO Round 1 4:59
Heading into the welterweight bout, Miller (6–0) was a heavy favorite (-560) over Fugitt (10–5), and he largely lived up to the expectations with a late stoppage victory.
Both fighters came out strong in the opening moments, trading shots in a fast-paced start. Fugitt attempted to close the distance by utilizing a series of leg kicks, hoping to slow Miller’s movement and neutralize the reach disadvantage. Miller, however, answered with sharp combinations and straight right hands that proved too much for Fugitt to handle.
With one minute remaining in the round, Miller dropped Fugitt to the canvas with a clean shot. Fugitt managed to get back to his feet, but Miller immediately followed up with a barrage of right hands. The referee ultimately waved off the bout with just one second left on the clock, sealing the victory for the unbeaten prospect.
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