Justin Gaethje won the interim lightweight belt via unanimous decision over Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324, claiming the #1 contender spot in the first 2026 rankings update. He is now lined up to challenge undisputed champion Ilia Topuria upon his return. This solidifies Gaethje's position in a stacked lightweight division. Natalia Silva also secured the next women's flyweight title shot after beating Rose Namajunas on the card. The update followed the first UFC event of 2026, reshaping title pictures. Fans anticipate a blockbuster unification bout.
Reports indicate that Justin Gaethje captured the interim lightweight championship at UFC 324, outpointing Paddy Pimblett across five rounds to earn a unanimous decision victory. The win, which has not been officially confirmed, places Gaethje as the top contender in the division and reportedly sets up a unification clash with undisputed champion Ilia Topuria upon his return.
Topuria, 29, holds a 17-1-0 professional record and currently sits at number two in the lightweight rankings while occupying the top spot in the pound-for-pound standings. The Spaniard, who trains out of Climent Club, is a well-rounded threat: he lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy and supplements his striking with 1.96 takedowns and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes. A unification bout against Gaethje would mark one of the most anticipated lightweight title fights in recent memory.
Also at UFC 324, Natalia Silva reportedly secured the next women's flyweight title shot by defeating Rose Namajunas. Silva, a 29-year-old southpaw from Brazil, carries a 20-5-1 record and ranks fifth in the division. She lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 45 percent accuracy, making her one of the more active offensive fighters in the weight class.
Namajunas, ranked sixth at 15-8-0, offered a contrasting skill set. The 34-year-old American connects at 3.5 significant strikes per minute and mixes in 1.47 takedowns per 15 minutes along with submission attempts, reflecting the technical, multi-dimensional game that has defined her career.
Why it matters
- A Gaethje-Topuria unification fight would bring together two of the sport's most dangerous finishers in an unbeaten-versus-proven-champion format
- Silva's reported title shot would pit a high-output striker against whoever holds the women's flyweight belt
- Both storylines stem from a single card, signaling a significant reshaping of two divisions to open 2026
