Justin Gaethje claimed the interim lightweight title with a unanimous decision win over Paddy Pimblett in the UFC 324 main event, vaulting him to #1 in the lightweight rankings after the first 2026 update. This positions Gaethje next in line to challenge undisputed champion Ilia Topuria upon his return. The win marks Gaethje's second interim belt. Meanwhile, Natalia Silva defeated Rose Namajunas on the main card, securing the next women's flyweight title shot. These developments shake up both divisions, setting up high-stakes unification and title bouts amid a competitive lightweight field and flyweight contenders race.
Justin Gaethje captured the interim lightweight title at UFC 324, defeating Paddy Pimblett by unanimous decision in the main event and landing at the top of the lightweight rankings in the first 2026 update. The victory positions Gaethje as the mandatory challenger for undisputed champion Ilia Topuria, with a unification bout expected upon Topuria's return. The win is Gaethje's second interim title.
Ilia Topuria, ranked pound-for-pound number one and holding a 17-1-0 record, currently sits as the undisputed lightweight king. The 29-year-old Spaniard fighting out of Climent Club is one of the division's most complete fighters, averaging 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy while also threatening with 1.96 takedowns and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Also on the UFC 324 main card, Natalia Silva earned the next women's flyweight title shot by defeating Rose Namajunas. Silva, 29, carries a 20-5-1 record and fights out of Team Borracha in Brazil. The southpaw is an aggressive striker, landing 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 45 percent accuracy. Her victory over Namajunas moves her to the front of a crowded flyweight contender queue.
Rose Namajunas, known as Thug, drops to 15-8-0 following the loss. The 34-year-old American from 303 Training Center had been ranked sixth in the women's flyweight division. Namajunas averages 3.5 significant strikes per minute and brings well-rounded tools to her fights, including 1.47 takedowns and 0.3 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Gaethje's interim title sets up a high-profile lightweight unification bout once Topuria is available to compete
- Topuria's pound-for-pound ranking and undefeated lightweight reign make the eventual matchup one of the most anticipated in the division's recent history
- Silva's win over a former champion accelerates her path to a flyweight title fight, reshaping the contender landscape in that division
