Justin Gaethje secured 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 his win, Gaethje has been positioned as the #1 contender and is now next in line to challenge undisputed lightweight champion Ilia Topuria whenever 'El Matador' returns to competition in 2026. The victory bumped Arman Tsarukyan down to #2 in the lightweight rankings, while Charles Oliveira and Max Holloway dropped one spot each to #3 and #4 respectively. Gaethje's path to an undisputed title shot is now clear, setting up a major showdown with Topuria later this year.
Reports indicate that Justin Gaethje has captured the interim lightweight title for the second time in his career, earning a unanimous decision over Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324. The result, not yet officially confirmed, positions the American as the mandatory challenger to undisputed champion Ilia Topuria, with a unification bout expected sometime in 2026.
Gaethje, now 28-5-0, is 37 years old and fights out of Genesis Training Center. The Arizona native is one of the most productive strikers in the division, landing 6.48 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate — both figures that rank among the elite at 155 pounds. He stands five-foot-eleven with a 70-inch reach.
Pimblett fell to 23-4-0 with the loss. The 31-year-old from Liverpool is ranked sixth at lightweight and competes out of Next Generation MMA Liverpool. Standing five-foot-ten with a 73-inch reach, "The Baddy" generates an impressive 5.49 significant strikes per minute and averages 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes, though he was unable to impose his game on Gaethje across the duration of the fight.
Topuria, the undisputed lightweight champion and current pound-for-pound number one, carries a 17-1-0 record and is just 29 years old. The Spain-based Georgian lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute and adds nearly two takedowns per 15 minutes, making him a multi-dimensional threat whenever he returns to competition.
Why it matters
- Gaethje's interim title win clears a direct path to a unification fight with Topuria in 2026
- Arman Tsarukyan slides to number two in the lightweight rankings following the result, with Charles Oliveira and Max Holloway dropping to third and fourth respectively
- A Gaethje-Topuria matchup would pit the division's most prolific striker against its pound-for-pound king, with the undisputed belt on the line
