Justin Gaethje defeated Paddy Pimblett via unanimous decision at UFC 324 to claim the interim lightweight title for the second time in his career. With this victory, Gaethje has secured the #1 ranking in the lightweight division and is now positioned as the next challenger to undisputed titleholder Ilia Topuria. The win sets up a highly anticipated title unification bout whenever Topuria is able to return to competition later in 2026. Gaethje's dominant performance over Pimblett in the main event solidifies his status as a legitimate threat to Topuria's reign and marks a significant moment in the lightweight title picture.
