Justin Gaethje defeated Paddy Pimblett by unanimous decision in the UFC 324 main event to claim the interim lightweight championship for the second time. This victory propelled Gaethje to #1 in the lightweight rankings, dropping Arman Tsarukyan to #2, Charles Oliveira to #3, and Max Holloway to #4. Ilia Topuria remains the undisputed lightweight champion, positioning Gaethje as the next title challenger upon Topuria's return. The event marked UFC's debut on Paramount+ and featured significant action despite the absence of the planned co-main between Kayla Harrison and Amanda Nunes. This reshapes the lightweight division's title picture for 2026.
Justin Gaethje captured the interim UFC lightweight championship for the second time in his career, defeating Paddy Pimblett by unanimous decision in the main event of UFC 324, which also marked the promotion's debut on the Paramount+ streaming platform.
The win vaults Gaethje to the top spot in the lightweight rankings and firmly establishes him as the mandatory challenger to undisputed champion Ilia Topuria upon the Georgian-Spaniard's return to competition. Topuria, 29, carries an imposing 17-1-0 record and holds the number-one spot in the pound-for-pound rankings. Standing five-foot-seven with a 69-inch reach, "El Matador" averages 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy and adds a consistent ground threat with nearly two takedowns per 15 minutes.
The lightweight reshuffling also moves two former champions down the ladder. Charles Oliveira, the 36-year-old Brazilian out of Chute Boxe Diego Lima, slides to third. "Do Bronxs" owns a 37-11-0 record and remains one of the division's most dangerous finishers, averaging 2.6 submission attempts per 15 minutes to go with 2.22 takedowns in that same window. Max Holloway drops to fourth after the latest update. The Hawaiian, now 27-9-0 at 34 years old, continues to operate at a relentless output of 7.2 significant strikes per minute — among the highest volume rates in the entire sport.
Why it matters
- Gaethje's interim title puts a Topuria versus Gaethje undisputed title fight next in line at 155 pounds
- Oliveira and Holloway, both former champions, now face a longer road back to title contention after sliding to third and fourth respectively
- The lightweight top five is now stacked with fighters carrying championship pedigree, raising the stakes of every matchup in the division heading into the rest of 2026
