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. This positions him as the next challenger for undisputed champion Ilia Topuria upon his return. The first UFC rankings update of 2026 reflects these shifts post-UFC 324. In women's flyweight, Natalia Silva solidified her #1 contender status by defeating Rose Namajunas, setting up a fresh challenge for champion Valentina Shevchenko after her recent defense. These developments clarify the title picture in two major divisions, with unification bouts likely later in 2026.
Reports emerging after UFC 324 suggest Justin Gaethje captured the interim lightweight title via unanimous decision over Paddy Pimblett in the night's main event, though these developments have not yet been officially confirmed. According to the reports, Gaethje has vaulted to number one in the lightweight rankings and is being positioned as the mandatory challenger to undisputed champion Ilia Topuria upon his return.
In women's flyweight, the same unconfirmed reports indicate Natalia Silva defeated Rose Namajunas to cement her status as the division's top contender, setting the stage for a future crack at champion Valentina Shevchenko.
Silva, 29, carries a 20-5-1 record and was previously ranked fifth in the division. The Brazilian southpaw out of Team Borracha is one of the more aggressive strikers at flyweight, averaging 4.81 significant strikes landed per minute, among the highest output in the weight class.
Namajunas, the 34-year-old American veteran fighting out of 303 Training Center, falls to 15-8-0 with the reported loss. She lands 3.50 significant strikes per minute and has historically been a well-rounded threat, mixing stand-up with 1.47 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Standing in Silva's path would be Shevchenko, 38, who holds a 26-4-1 record and remains one of the most technically accomplished champions in UFC history. The Kyrgyzstan-born southpaw connects at 52 percent striking accuracy while averaging 3.14 significant strikes per minute, and she also brings a credible grappling threat with 2.62 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- An unconfirmed Silva title shot would pit one of flyweight's highest-volume strikers against the division's most accurate and decorated champion.
- Shevchenko's combination of striking precision and takedown output presents a multi-dimensional challenge Silva has not yet faced at this level.
- Unification bouts in both lightweight and women's flyweight could define much of the 2026 UFC calendar if these reports prove accurate.
