MMA Match Preview: Ateba Gautier (9-1) vs. Andrey Pulyaev (10-3)
The middleweight division heats up at UFC 324 as undefeated UFC prospect Ateba “The Silent Assassin” Gautier (9-1) looks to continue his knockout streak against the durable Andrey Pulyaev (10-3), a Russian fighter aiming to rebound from his first UFC loss. Gautier, a 23-year-old powerhouse from Cameroon with explosive striking, enters as a heavy favorite after three consecutive first-round finishes in the Octagon. Pulyaev, 28, brings a grinding style with strong grappling and resilience, but faces an uphill battle against Gautier’s athleticism and power. This prelim bout has potential for an early stoppage, as both men have shown finishing ability, though Gautier’s recent form suggests he could overwhelm the veteran. No bad blood here—just a classic prospect vs. experience matchup on a card headlined by Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett for the interim lightweight title.
Venue Location
T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada. This 20,000-seat iconic venue, a staple for UFC pay-per-view events, is known for its high-energy crowds and history of hosting explosive middleweight fights, including several knockouts in recent years.
The main card starting at 9:00 p.m. ET (6:00 p.m. PT, 7:00 p.m. local time in Las Vegas). Prelims begin at 7:00 p.m. ET (4:00 p.m. PT), and early prelims at 5:00 p.m. ET (2:00 p.m. PT). This fight is on the prelims, likely airing around 7:30-8:00 p.m. ET. Stream live on Paramount+.
Injury Report
Ateba Gautier: No reported injuries. Gautier is fully healthy after a dominant run, with his most recent bout unaffected by any issues. He dealt with a late opponent change in October 2025 due to his original foe’s medical withdrawal but showed no lingering effects.
Andrey Pulyaev: No reported injuries. Pulyaev enters cleared and in good form, with no setbacks noted from his March 2025 decision loss. His training camp has focused on cardio and grappling, per recent updates, without any health concerns.
Fighter Matchups
This middleweight (185 lbs) prelim bout pits Gautier’s athletic, knockout-oriented striking against Pulyaev’s durable, pressure-fighting style. Gautier (6’4″, 81″ reach) lands 5.8 significant strikes per minute at 62% accuracy, with excellent takedown defense (85%) and power in both hands (89% of wins by KO/TKO). He’s a switch-stance fighter who excels in counters and clinch work. Pulyaev (6’4″, 76″ reach) absorbs more (4.2 strikes per minute) but presses forward relentlessly, averaging 2.5 takedowns per 15 minutes at 48% success and mixing in submissions (20% of wins). Styles make for a potential banger: Gautier’s volume and precision could pick apart Pulyaev at range, but if Pulyaev closes distance and grinds, his wrestling edge (from Sambo background) might neutralize the prospect. Fight distance favors Gautier early, but Pulyaev’s chin (never KO’d in UFC) could force a decision.
Recent Form
Ateba Gautier: On a four-fight win streak, all stoppages. Overall 4-0 in last four: W (TKO R1 vs. Treston Vines, Oct 2025), W (KO R1 vs. Robert Valentin, Jul 2025), W (KO R1 vs. Jose Medina, Mar 2025), W (KO R2 vs. Yura Naito, Sep 2024). Form showcases devastating power and improved finishing instincts, transitioning from decisions in early career to quick KOs in UFC.
Andrey Pulyaev: 3-1 in last four, mixing finishes and decisions. Recent: W (KO R2 vs. Nick Klein, Aug 2025), L (UD vs. Christian Leroy Duncan, Mar 2025), W (UD vs. Liam Anderson, Aug 2024), W (KO R1 vs. Well Oliveira, Feb 2024). Form highlights resilience and grinding wins, but the loss exposed vulnerabilities to high-volume strikers.
Fight History
This is the first meeting between Gautier and Pulyaev—no prior head-to-head or bad blood. They share no common opponents of note. Gautier is 3-0 in UFC (all finishes), while Pulyaev is 2-1 (one KO, one UD win, one UD loss). No reported animosity; this is a clean stylistic matchup.
FIGHT ODDS
Ateba Gautier – 650
Andrey Pulyaev + 475
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, January 23, 2026
