Justin Gaethje claimed the interim lightweight title with a unanimous decision win over Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324, vaulting to #1 in the lightweight rankings and dropping Arman Tsarukyan to #2, Charles Oliveira to #3, and Max Holloway to #4. Holloway and Oliveira are set to rematch at UFC 326 for the BMF title. Gaethje is now positioned as the next challenger for undisputed lightweight champion Ilia Topuria upon his return. This reshapes the lightweight division, positioning Gaethje for a unification bout. Expect Topuria vs. Gaethje to headline a major card later in 2026.
Reports indicate Justin Gaethje has claimed the interim lightweight title following a unanimous decision victory over Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324, though the development has not been officially confirmed. The result is said to have reshuffled the entire 155-pound division and placed Gaethje in line for a unification bout against undisputed lightweight champion Ilia Topuria.
Topuria, 29, carries a 17-1-0 record and holds the number-one pound-for-pound ranking in the sport. The Spanish champion lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute with 48 percent accuracy and supplements his striking with 1.96 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him a complete threat across all phases. According to these reports, Gaethje would be positioned as his next challenger upon Topuria's return.
The reshuffling reportedly drops Arman Tsarukyan to second in the division, Charles Oliveira to third, and Max Holloway to fourth. Oliveira, 36, holds a 37-11-0 record and remains one of the most dangerous submission artists in the division, averaging 2.6 submission attempts per 15 minutes alongside 2.22 takedowns in the same span. Holloway, 34, carries a 27-9-0 record and a remarkable output of 7.2 significant strikes per minute, among the highest volume rates in the lightweight division.
The same reports suggest Holloway and Oliveira are targeted to meet at UFC 326 in a rematch for the BMF title, adding another major storyline to the lightweight landscape.
Why it matters
- An unconfirmed Gaethje interim title win would set up a high-profile unification bout against Topuria, likely headlining a major card later in 2026
- Oliveira and Holloway at UFC 326 pits elite submission grappling against elite striking volume in a rematch with BMF gold on the line
- The divisional reshuffling affects Tsarukyan, Oliveira, and Holloway's paths to an undisputed title shot simultaneously
