Gaethje Claims Interim Belt, Eyes Topuria Showdown

Following his unanimous decision win over Paddy Pimblett in the UFC 324 main event, Justin Gaethje claimed the interim lightweight title for the second time and rose to #1 in the lightweight rankings after the first UFC update of 2026. Ilia Topuria remains the undisputed lightweight champion, positioning Gaethje as the next challenger when Topuria returns. In women's flyweight, Natalia Silva defeated Rose Namajunas on the main card, securing her as the next title contender. This reshapes the lightweight division with Gaethje's resurgence and flyweight hierarchy. Expect Gaethje vs. Topuria booking soon, pending Topuria's schedule.