THOUGHT: The user wants me to rewrite a title concisely, under 30 words. The original title is: "What’s next for the stars of UFC 324?" This title is already quite concise and under 30 words (9 words). I need to make sure I don’t add any extra words or explanation, just the revised title.

If I try to make it even more concise, I might lose meaning, but the instruction is to "rewrite… into a concise version under 30 words". Since it’s already concise and under 30 words, I can either:

  1. Return it as is, because it meets the criteria.
  2. Try to find a slightly different phrasing, even if the length is similar, to show a "rewrite".

Let’s try to rewrite it while keeping the core meaning. Original: "What’s next for the stars of UFC 324?"

Possible rephrasing attempts:

  • "UFC 324 Stars: What’s Next?" (6 words) – Good, maintains question format.
  • "Future of UFC 324 Stars" (5 words) – Loses the question aspect, but very concise.
  • "UFC 324 Fighters: Next Steps?" (5 words) – "Fighters" instead of "stars" is more direct, "Next Steps" is common for future.

The request is "rewrite… into a concise version under 30 words". The original is already concise and under 30 words. A simple change that is still a "rewrite" could be good.

"UFC 324 Stars: What’s Next?" seems like a good balance. It’s shorter, still a question, and conveys the same meaning. It meets all conditions:

  • Rewritten
  • Concise (shorter than original)
  • Under 30 words (6 words)
  • No explanation or extra text (I will only output the title).UFC 324 Stars: What’s Next?

  • January 27, 2026

Ultimate Fighting Championship inaugurated its 2026 calendar with a substantial UFC 324 lineup, marking the initial Paramount-era spectacle held on Saturday. Headlining the card, Justin Gaethje competed against Paddy Pimblett for the interim lightweight championship. The penultimate bout featured Sean O’Malley clashing with Song Yadong in a crucial bantamweight encounter.

Ultimately, Gaethje secured a unanimous decision victory over Pimblett in what was instantly hailed as a memorable contest. O’Malley, in the co-headliner, re-entered the winners’ circle by defeating Yadong via decision.

Subsequent to UFC 324, my projections for the next steps for the standout fighters from the event are outlined below.

Justin Gaethje

Justin Gaethje aimed to claim the interim lightweight championship for a second time, a feat he accomplished at UFC 324 on Saturday. Gaethje commenced with vigor, knocking Pimblett down and maintaining relentless pressure during the entirety of the fight. Gaethje’s superior power was evident, yielding considerable success whenever he initiated offensive maneuvers.

This triumph establishes Gaethje as the interim lightweight titleholder, setting the stage for his subsequent, much-anticipated confrontation with Ilia Topuria.

Paddy Pimblett

Paddy Pimblett missed an opportunity to secure a significant showdown with Ilia Topuria by failing to win at UFC 324. Pimblett experienced periods of effectiveness during the contest, but Gaethje’s striking power proved decisive.

Despite Pimblett’s defeat, he remains firmly within championship contention, likely requiring just one or two victories to re-establish a path to a title challenge. A sensible next opponent would be the victor of the Dan Hooker versus Benoit Saint-Denis bout, scheduled for this Saturday at UFC 325. Such a matchup would be feasible for the summer, with the winner potentially securing a direct title opportunity.

Sean O’Malley

Sean O'Malley wins at UFC 324

(via Zuffa LLC)

Sean O’Malley successfully re-entered the victory column, securing a hard-earned triumph against Song Yadong at UFC 324. O’Malley performed well in the opening round but experienced a dip in performance during the second. Nevertheless, by the third round, he asserted dominance, landing more impactful strikes to clinch the victory.

This win positions O’Malley for the next championship challenge against Petr Yan, setting up a rematch between the two. This would constitute a highly awaited contest, a logical progression given the unlikelihood of a Yan-Dvalishvili trilogy and Umar Nurmagomedov’s perceived insufficient performance to surpass O’Malley in the rankings.

Song Yadong

Song Yadong was presented with an opportunity to solidify his status as a legitimate bantamweight title contender but was unsuccessful against Sean O’Malley at UFC 324. Yadong showcased effective periods during the bout and maintains his standing as a premier contender. A suitable next opponent for him would be the victor of the Mario Bautista versus Vincius Oliveira main event, scheduled to occur in two weeks.