Justin Gaethje claimed the interim lightweight title with a unanimous decision win over Paddy Pimblett in the UFC 324 main event, vaulting to #1 in the lightweight rankings. Ilia Topuria, the undisputed lightweight champion, now has Gaethje positioned as his next challenger upon return. This sets up a high-stakes unification bout in a stacked division. The update marks the first official rankings change of 2026 following the year's opening event. Expect Gaethje vs. Topuria to headline a major card later this year.
