Justin Gaethje secured the interim lightweight championship with a unanimous decision victory over Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324, claiming the promotion's interim lightweight belt for the second time in his career. With this win, Gaethje has positioned himself as the #1 contender in the lightweight division and is now next in line to challenge undisputed titleholder Ilia Topuria whenever 'El Matador' returns to competition in 2026. The victory bumped Arman Tsarukyan down to #2 in the rankings, while Charles Oliveira and Max Holloway also dropped one spot each to #3 and #4 respectively. Gaethje's path to an undisputed title shot against Topuria is now clear, setting up a potential blockbuster matchup later this year.
Reports indicate that Justin Gaethje has captured the interim lightweight championship for the second time in his UFC career, defeating Paddy Pimblett by unanimous decision at UFC 324. The victory, which has not yet been officially confirmed, would place "The Highlight" next in line to challenge undisputed titleholder Ilia Topuria when the champion returns to competition in 2026.
Gaethje, now 28-5-0 and 37 years old, has long been one of the most active and damaging strikers in the lightweight division. The Arizona-born fighter out of Genesis Training Center lands an extraordinary 6.48 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy, numbers that rank among the best in the 155-pound class. Standing five-foot-eleven with a 70-inch reach, Gaethje has built his reputation almost entirely on his striking output, recording zero submission attempts per 15 minutes across his career.
Pimblett, the 31-year-old Englishman from Next Generation MMA Liverpool, entered the contest carrying a 23-3-0 record and ranked sixth in the division. "The Baddy" is no stranger to high-output exchanges, landing 5.49 significant strikes per minute himself at 52 percent accuracy, and he also brings a submission threat averaging 1.2 attempts per 15 minutes. The reported loss drops him to 23-4-0.
Topuria, meanwhile, remains the undisputed lightweight champion at 17-1-0. The 29-year-old Spaniard who fights out of Climent Club is the pound-for-pound number one fighter in the sport, standing five-foot-seven with a 69-inch reach. He averages 4.81 significant strikes per minute and blends his striking with 1.96 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him a genuine two-dimensional threat.
Why it matters
- Gaethje reportedly moves to the top of the lightweight contender queue, with Arman Tsarukyan, Charles Oliveira, and Max Holloway each sliding one position down the rankings
- A Gaethje-Topuria matchup would pit the division's most prolific striker by volume against its pound-for-pound king
- The report has not been officially confirmed, and the timeline for Topuria's return to competition in 2026 remains unspecified
