Justin Gaethje won the interim lightweight title via unanimous decision over Paddy Pimblett in the UFC 324 main event last Saturday, claiming the belt for the second time and vaulting to #1 in the lightweight rankings. This bumped Arman Tsarukyan to #2, Charles Oliveira to #3, and Max Holloway to #4. Gaethje is now positioned as the next challenger for undisputed champion Ilia Topuria upon his return. In women's flyweight, Natalia Silva defeated Rose Namajunas to secure #1 contender status against Valentina Shevchenko. Jean Silva rose four spots to featherweight top 10 after beating Arnold Allen. These shifts post-UFC 324, the first event of 2026 under Paramount partnership, reshape title pictures in multiple divisions with unification and fresh matchups ahead.[1]
Reports indicate Justin Gaethje captured the interim lightweight title at UFC 324 last Saturday, defeating Paddy Pimblett by unanimous decision in the main event to claim the belt for the second time in his career. The result, which has not been officially confirmed, would vault Gaethje to the top of the lightweight rankings and position him as the leading challenger for undisputed champion Ilia Topuria.
The reported ranking reshuffle places Arman Tsarukyan at number two, Charles Oliveira at number three, and Max Holloway at number four in the 155-pound division. Oliveira, a 36-year-old Brazilian fighting out of Chute Boxe Diego Lima, carries a 37-11 record and remains one of the division's most dangerous finishers, averaging 2.6 submission attempts per 15 minutes alongside a 54 percent striking accuracy rate.
In the women's flyweight division, Natalia Silva reportedly defeated Rose Namajunas to earn the number one contender spot against champion Valentina Shevchenko. The 38-year-old Kyrgyzstan native holds a 26-4-1 record and has long defined the flyweight title picture, landing strikes at a 52 percent accuracy clip and averaging 2.62 takedowns per 15 minutes. A Silva challenge would represent her next defense.
At featherweight, Jean Silva's four-spot ranking climb following a win over Arnold Allen adds further movement to the division. Allen, a 32-year-old southpaw from England ranked fifth at featherweight, carries a 21-4 record and lands 3.52 significant strikes per minute out of Tristar Gym.
Why it matters
- A Gaethje-Topuria unification fight would bring together the interim and undisputed lightweight titles for a single champion
- Oliveira at number three keeps the former champion in contention for another title run
- Silva entering contention at women's flyweight sets up a fresh challenge to Shevchenko's long-standing divisional dominance
- Jean Silva's rise reshuffles featherweight contender positioning ahead of future matchmaking
