Justin Gaethje earned the interim lightweight championship with a unanimous decision victory over Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324, claiming the interim belt for the second time in his career. Following this win, Gaethje has been positioned as the next challenger for undisputed lightweight champion Ilia Topuria. Gaethje now sits at the #1 ranking in the lightweight division, bumping Arman Tsarukyan down to #2. The victory solidifies Gaethje's status as the clear number-one contender and sets up a potential unification bout with Topuria later in 2026. This matchup is expected to be one of the year's biggest lightweight title fights.
