"Silva held center early in the UFC 324 main card opener, barely moving while Allen worked from the outside, starting off the action with a kick. Allen was far more mobile, circling, firing a probing leg kick while Silva appeared to bide his time, hand cocked. The first punch from the Brazilian targeted the body, and he'd go there again later. Jean Silva did flip the script, going high with a kick, while Allen borrowed from Silva's playbook by targeting the body."
"When Silva closed the distance, looking to fire off a combo, Allen quickly slipped away. His movement through the first three minutes gave him the edge, while Silva was looking overly cautious. With 90 seconds left in the opening round, Allen was warned for an eye poke, but the action was paused for mere seconds. Silva started moving forward a bit more at the end of the round, but Allen continued to beat him to the punch, snapping his head back with a jab."
Featherweights Jean Silva and Arnold Allen opened the UFC 324 main card, the first numbered event of 2026 and the Paramount+ era. Paramount+ provided $1.1 billion per year over seven years, doubled post-fight bonuses to $100,000, and added a $25,000 finishing bonus. Silva sought to rebound from a loss to Diego Lopes; Allen had returned to form in 2024 but missed all of last year. Allen controlled the first round with mobility, circling, probing leg kicks and a snapping jab while Silva remained cautious and targeted the body. Allen was warned for an eye poke late in round one, and Silva pressed more at the end. Round two saw Silva land an over-the-top elbow and produce a competitive, back-and-forth exchange.
Read at Cageside Press
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