Justin Gaethje claimed the UFC interim lightweight championship for the second time with a unanimous decision victory over Paddy Pimblett in the main event of UFC 324. The win propelled Gaethje to the #1 contender spot in the lightweight division, positioning him as the next challenger for undisputed titleholder Ilia Topuria whenever 'El Matador' returns to competition this year. The rankings update following UFC 324 also reflected significant movement in the division, with Arman Tsarukyan dropping to #2, while Charles Oliveira and Max Holloway fell to #3 and #4 respectively. Gaethje's interim title victory marks a major step forward in his pursuit of undisputed gold.
