Following his unanimous decision victory over Paddy Pimblett in the UFC 324 main event, Justin Gaethje has claimed the interim lightweight title for the second time and risen to #1 in the lightweight rankings. This positions him as the next challenger for undisputed champion Ilia Topuria upon Topuria's return. The first UFC rankings update of 2026 reflects outcomes from the promotion's opening event. Meanwhile, Natalia Silva secured a top spot in women's flyweight after beating Rose Namajunas on the main card, likely earning her a title opportunity. These developments shake up both divisions, setting up high-stakes unification bouts later in 2026.
