Justin Gaethje secured the interim UFC lightweight championship with a unanimous decision victory over Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324, earning the #1 ranking in the division. The win positions Gaethje as the next challenger to undisputed lightweight champion Ilia Topuria whenever 'El Matador' returns to competition in 2026. Gaethje's triumph marked his second interim title claim in his UFC career. The victory bumped Arman Tsarukyan down to #2, while Charles Oliveira and Max Holloway dropped to #3 and #4 respectively in the updated rankings. UFC 324 served as the promotion's debut event on Paramount+, featuring multiple title fights to kick off the year.
Reports indicate that Justin Gaethje claimed the interim UFC lightweight title at UFC 324, defeating Paddy Pimblett by unanimous decision to land the division's top ranking. The promotion's debut event on the Paramount+ platform featured the bout as a centerpiece, and the result reportedly sets up Gaethje as the mandatory challenger to undisputed champion Ilia Topuria when he returns to competition in 2026. This story has not been officially confirmed.
Ilia Topuria, the undisputed lightweight champion, carries a 17-1-0 record and holds the number-one spot in the pound-for-pound rankings at just 29 years old. The Spain-based fighter operates out of an orthodox stance, stands five-foot-seven, and lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute with a 48 percent accuracy rate. He also averages nearly two takedowns per 15 minutes, adding a multidimensional threat to his already dangerous striking game.
The updated rankings have Charles Oliveira slipping to third in the division. The 36-year-old Brazilian out of Chute Boxe Diego Lima carries a 37-11-0 record and remains one of the most dangerous submission artists in the sport, averaging 2.6 submission attempts per 15 minutes alongside 2.22 takedowns per 15 minutes. He lands strikes at 54 percent accuracy, the highest mark in the current lightweight top five.
Sitting at number four is Max Holloway, who moved up from featherweight and continues to build his lightweight résumé at 34 years old. The Hawaiian orthodox fighter holds a 27-9-0 record and remains one of the sport's most prolific volume strikers, averaging 7.2 significant strikes per minute. His five-foot-eleven frame and 69-inch reach support a high-output pressure style that has translated well to the heavier division.
Why it matters
- Gaethje's interim title claim creates a clear path to an undisputed title unification bout with Topuria in 2026
- Arman Tsarukyan moves to number two, while Oliveira and Holloway slide down one spot each, reshuffling contender order
- UFC 324 served as Paramount+'s launch event, raising the stakes for the card's results across the division
