Gaethje Claims Interim Belt, Eyes Topuria Unification

Following his unanimous decision win over Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324, Justin Gaethje claimed the interim lightweight title and rose to #1 in the official UFC rankings, positioning him as the next challenger for undisputed champion Ilia Topuria. This marks Gaethje's second interim belt. In women's flyweight, Natalia Silva defeated Rose Namajunas on the main card, securing her a title shot. The first rankings update of 2026 reflects outcomes from the inaugural UFC event. Gaethje vs. Topuria could headline a major card later this year, while Silva eyes the flyweight throne. Expect unification bouts soon.[1]