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, displacing Arman Tsarukyan to #2, with Charles Oliveira and Max Holloway dropping to #3 and #4. Ilia Topuria remains the undisputed lightweight champion. The win positions Gaethje as the next challenger for Topuria's title. This reshapes the lightweight division, setting up a high-stakes unification bout later in 2026.
