Following UFC 324, official UFC rankings updated with Justin Gaethje claiming the interim lightweight belt via unanimous decision over Paddy Pimblett, positioning him as #1 contender to champion Ilia Topuria. Natalia Silva earned the next women's flyweight title shot after beating Rose Namajunas. These shifts clarify lightweight and flyweight title pictures early in 2026, with Gaethje's win boosting his path to undisputed gold. Topuria's return will test Gaethje's striking power. Silva's rise pressures the flyweight division for future defenses.
Reports emerging from UFC 324 suggest Justin Gaethje has captured the interim lightweight championship with a unanimous decision victory over Paddy Pimblett, though these developments have not yet been officially confirmed by the UFC.
According to the unverified reports, Gaethje's win positions him as the number-one contender to undisputed lightweight champion Ilia Topuria, setting up what would be a marquee title unification bout. Separately, Natalia Silva is said to have defeated Rose Namajunas to earn the next women's flyweight title shot, reshaping the division's landscape early in 2026.
Ilia Topuria, ranked number one pound-for-pound and currently listed second in the lightweight division, carries a 17-1-0 record and fights out of Spain's Climent Club. The 29-year-old poses a multifaceted threat, landing 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy while also averaging nearly two takedowns and more than one submission attempt per 15 minutes.
Natalia Silva, a 29-year-old Brazilian southpaw fighting out of Team Borracha, holds a 20-5-1 record and is ranked fifth in the women's flyweight division. She is an active striker, landing 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 45 percent accuracy. Her opponent, Rose Namajunas — ranked sixth — brings a 15-8-0 record and greater takedown activity, averaging 1.47 takedowns per 15 minutes for Team 303 Training Center out of the United States.
Why it matters
- An interim title win for Gaethje would place him directly in line to challenge Topuria for undisputed lightweight gold, a fight that pits striking power against one of the division's most complete skill sets.
- Silva climbing toward a flyweight title shot adds pressure to the division and signals a shift in its contender hierarchy.
- Both stories remain unconfirmed, and the full implications for rankings and scheduling depend on official UFC verification.
