UFC 324’s middleweight prelim spotlight features explosive prospect Ateba Gautier taking on Russian veteran Andrey Pulyaev in a crucial divisional clash. Gautier looks to extend his perfect 3-0 UFC start with three first-round finishes, while Pulyaev seeks redemption after bouncing back from his debut loss. This 3-round prelim fight could determine which fighter emerges as a legitimate contender in the stacked 185-pound division.
Gautier brings a 9-1 record with spectacular knockout victories over Tre’ston Vines, Robert Valentin and Jose Medina, all in the first round. Pulyaev enters with a 10-3 record and a recent TKO win over Nick Klein after losing his UFC debut. Gautier is around a -1000 favorite with Pulyaev at roughly +625 as a massive underdog.
Here’s how we’re betting UFC 324: Gautier vs Pulyaev, including our UFC predictions, best bet, key props and an expert final verdict.
Mini Fight Info Strip
Event: UFC 324 – T-Mobile Arena
Weight class: Middleweight bout
Fight length: 3-round prelim fight
Date & time: Saturday, January 24, 2026 – Prelims 7:00 p.m. ET, walk time ~8:00 p.m. ET
Odds updated: January 22, 2026 – 5:40 AM ET. Lines may move before fight night, especially after weigh-ins or late injury news.
Tale of the Tape – Key Stats To Know
Before we get into the matchup, here’s a Tale of the Tape for Gautier vs Pulyaev.
Tale Of The Tape
Ateba Gautier
Andrey Pulyaev
Record
9-1
10-3
Age
23
28
Height
6’4″
6’4″
Reach
81″
78″
Stance
Switch
Southpaw
Sig. Strikes Landed
6.57
3.81
Striking Accuracy
60%
60%
Takedowns
0.98
0.41
Takedown Defense
92%
64%
Submission Avg.
0.0
0.0
Gautier holds massive advantages in youth, reach (3 inches), striking volume, and takedown defense. Both are identical in height and striking accuracy. Gautier’s switch stance creates awkward angles against Pulyaev’s southpaw. The striking differential heavily favors the explosive Cameroonian finisher.
Fighter Breakdown – Ateba Gautier Analysis
Gautier comes in with a 9-1 record including recent knockout victories over Tre’ston Vines, Robert Valentin and Jose Medina. The 23 year old from Cameroon is one of the UFC’s most hyped prospects with devastating finishing ability.
Strengths: Exceptional knockout power with 7 career KOs. Elite striking volume and accuracy. Excellent takedown defense (92%). Never been finished in 10 professional fights. Three consecutive UFC Performance of the Night bonuses. Switch stance creates angles. Coming off three spectacular first-round finishes.
Weaknesses: Only 10 professional fights with limited experience. Untested cardio in longer fights. Hasn’t faced high-level competition yet. Can be overaggressive hunting finishes. First time as massive favorite could create pressure.
Betting Angles: Gautier’s -1000 moneyline offers zero value. Gautier by KO/TKO (-425) is our primary play given his finishing rate.
Fighter Breakdown – Andrey Pulyaev Analysis
Pulyaev brings a 10-3 record with recent wins over Nick Klein and Liam Anderson on Contender Series. The 28 year old Russian trains brings a solid striking background with black belt credentials in Kudo.
Strengths: Tall southpaw at 6’4″ with long reach. Black belt in Kudo striking. Solid boxing fundamentals. Won UFC contract on Contender Series. Rebounded well from debut loss with TKO win over Klein. Durable enough to survive 15 minutes against Christian Leroy Duncan.
Weaknesses: Poor takedown defense and limited offensive wrestling. Lost UFC debut badly to Duncan. Lower striking volume than top middleweights. Hasn’t faced elite competition. Never stopped anyone in UFC. Massive step up facing unbeaten finisher.
Betting Angles: Pulyaev’s +625 moneyline offers lottery ticket value for a potential upset. Pulyaev by Decision (+2000) is the only realistic path if Gautier slows. His striking could keep it competitive if he survives early onslaught.
Gautier has finished all three UFC opponents in the first round via knockout, with an average fight time of just 2 minutes and 8 seconds. His explosive power and aggressive striking style overwhelm opponents early. 7 of his 9 career wins have come by knockout, showing a clear finishing pattern. Pulyaev’s defensive vulnerabilities and lower output make him a prime target for Gautier’s power. While the price is steep at -425 (implied 81%), we think this hits around 85% of the time given Gautier’s perfect finishing rate and Pulyaev’s defensive holes. This is the most direct path to victory.
Neither fighter has shown submission ability (both 0.0 avg), making this a pure striking battle. Gautier hasn’t needed more than one round in three UFC fights. Pulyaev was stopped in round two by Nick Klein in his last fight. Even if Pulyaev survives round one, his cardio and durability decline significantly in round two. At -215 (implied 68.3%), we think this finishes inside six minutes around 75% of the time.
Small stake only. While extremely unlikely, this is Pulyaev’s only realistic path to victory. If Gautier’s inexperience shows and he gasses himself hunting the early finish, Pulyaev’s boxing fundamentals and height could steal later rounds. Gautier has never been tested past one round in UFC. Keep stakes at 0.25 units maximum.
Prediction – Final Verdict
Official pick: Ateba Gautier by KO/TKO
We are backing Gautier to finish Pulyaev. The Cameroonian’s explosive power and aggressive style should overwhelm the Russian within minutes. Pulyaev’s poor takedown defense means Gautier can mix levels if needed, but we see a standing knockout as most likely.
Gautier should land a devastating combination or counter strike around the 2-3 minute mark. This win should extend Gautier’s perfect UFC record to 4-0 with four first-round finishes, firmly establishing him as one of the division’s most exciting prospects. The UFC will likely fast-track him toward ranked competition in his next bout.
How to Bet UFC 324: Tips for This Card
Beyond the Gautier-Pulyaev middleweight clash, UFC 324 offers several compelling matchups that create both opportunities and traps for bettors.
Card Tips:
Gautier’s -1000 moneyline is prohibitively expensive. Focus on round props and method-of-victory markets for value.
All three of Gautier’s UFC wins came in under 4 minutes. Under 1.5 rounds and Gautier Round 1 offer the best risk-reward.
Sean O’Malley vs Song Yadong in the co-main is a dangerous swing fight. O’Malley on a two-fight skid makes his -210 price questionable.
I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!
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