Following his unanimous decision win over Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324, Justin Gaethje claimed the interim lightweight title for the second time and rose to #1 in the lightweight rankings in the first UFC update of 2026. This positions Gaethje as the next challenger for undisputed champion Ilia Topuria upon his return. In women's flyweight, Natalia Silva defeated Rose Namajunas on the main card, securing her a title shot. These developments shake up the lightweight and flyweight divisions, setting up major unification bouts. Expect Gaethje vs Topuria and Silva's title fight to headline upcoming events.
Reports emerging from the first UFC rankings update of 2026 indicate that Justin Gaethje has claimed the interim lightweight title for the second time in his career following a unanimous decision victory over Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324, though these developments have not yet been officially confirmed.
The win reportedly elevated Gaethje to number one in the lightweight rankings, positioning him as the mandatory challenger for undisputed champion Ilia Topuria upon the Spaniard's return. Topuria, who holds a 17-1-0 record and currently sits at number two in the division while ranking first pound-for-pound, is one of the most complete fighters in the sport. The 29-year-old lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy and also threatens regularly on the ground, averaging 1.96 takedowns and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
On the same card, Natalia Silva reportedly defeated Rose Namajunas to earn a shot at the women's flyweight title. Silva, also 29 and representing Brazil, carries a 20-5-1 record and ranked fifth in the division heading into the bout. The southpaw is an active striker, landing 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 45 percent accuracy. She faced a seasoned opponent in Namajunas, the 34-year-old American known as "Thug" who entered ranked sixth with a 15-8-0 record and a more measured output of 3.5 significant strikes per minute alongside 1.47 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- A Gaethje versus Topuria unification bout would pit the interim champion against the pound-for-pound number one, with massive divisional stakes attached
- Silva's reported title shot represents a significant rise for a striker who has not yet registered a submission attempt per her tracked stats, potentially creating an intriguing stylistic contrast against the flyweight champion
- Both reports remain unconfirmed, and official UFC announcements would be required before either fight can be considered formally booked
