TLDR
- Jean Silva faces Arnold Allen at UFC 324 on January 24, 2026, in Las Vegas
- Silva is coming off a spinning elbow KO loss to Diego Lopes in his last fight
- Allen has not fought since 2024 and is returning after an inactive 2025
- Silva is heavily favored at -235 with 15 of 16 career wins by stoppage
- Allen’s technical boxing and jab will face Silva’s explosive multi-strike attack
Main Event: Justin Gaethje vs Paddy Pimblett
Jean Silva and Arnold Allen will meet in a featherweight matchup on Saturday, January 24, 2026, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The bout opens the main card of UFC 324, the first major event of the Paramount era.
Silva enters the fight after a tough loss to Diego Lopes, who caught him with a spinning elbow in what became one of 2025’s most exciting fights. The Brazilian knockout artist was just one win away from his first UFC title shot before that setback.
At 29 years old, Silva has won 16 of his 17 career fights, with 15 victories coming by stoppage. He has earned a reputation for finishing opponents who are typically hard to stop.
Allen Returns After Inactive Year
Arnold Allen did not compete at all in 2025, making this his first fight in over a year. The 31-year-old English fighter last won against Giga Chikadze in July 2024 and also came close to defeating undefeated contender Movsar Evloev in 2024.
Featherweights on the cusp of the title picture collide in Las Vegas when Arnold Allen and Jean Silva make the walk at #UFC324 for a matchup flying slightly under the radar.
Read more ➡️: https://t.co/lsk2DZ7vx5 https://t.co/lsk2DZ7vx5
— UFC News (@UFCNews) January 22, 2026
Allen has spent a decade on the UFC roster and is looking to make his push toward a title shot. Despite his experience and skill level, he has not appeared in the Octagon as frequently as many other top contenders.
The betting odds favor Silva heavily at -235, while Allen sits at +180 as the underdog. The odds reflect Silva’s recent finishing power and Allen’s long layoff.
Contrasting Styles Set Stage for Tactical Battle
Silva brings exceptional athleticism and can strike from both orthodox and southpaw stances. He attacks moving forward and backward with a wide variety of strikes including kicks, knees, and elbows.
Allen’s strength lies in his technical boxing skills, particularly his jab and combination work. He also possesses underrated grappling abilities and smart kick setups that complement his boxing.
In Silva’s fight against Kevin Vallejos, he successfully used elbows to counter his opponent’s slick boxing and head movement. This tactical adjustment could play a role against Allen’s technical striking approach.
Silva’s loss to Lopes came when he became overaggressive and walked into a counter strike. Managing his composure while maintaining offensive pressure will be crucial in this matchup.
Allen will need to control the distance with his jab and avoid getting drawn into a brawling exchange. His technical precision and experience could help him navigate Silva’s power, but he cannot afford to make mistakes against such a dangerous finisher.
Both fighters are still in their athletic prime despite having different levels of UFC experience. Silva has competed more recently, while Allen brings deeper cage experience from his ten years in the promotion.
The fight takes place at featherweight, where both men have built their reputations as dangerous strikers. A win for either fighter would put them back in the title conversation at 145 pounds.
