UFC 324: Gaethje Outlasts Pimblett to Claim Interim Lightweight Crown
The main event of UFC 324 saw veteran Justin Gaethje outpoint rising star Paddy Pimblett in a bloody, back-and-forth battle to capture the interim lightweight championship.
Background to the Interim Title Fight
The UFC has scheduled an interim lightweight championship bout between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett as the main event of UFC 324. The championship became available after undisputed lightweight champion Ilia Topuria announced an indefinite hiatus from the sport for personal reasons.
The event took place on January 25, 2026 (AEDT) at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, and was the first card of the UFC's new seven-year, $7.7 billion broadcast partnership with Paramount+.
Gaethje, 37, has previously held the interim lightweight title and the BMF championship. He entered the bout with a 26-5 record and had secured 14 post-fight bonuses across 14 UFC appearances. Pimblett, 19-5, had accumulated seven consecutive wins in his Octagon career, including victories over Tony Ferguson, King Green, and Michael Chandler. He had not lost since joining the UFC.
The interim title was created due to Topuria's unavailability. Topuria became the vacant lightweight champion in June 2025 by defeating Charles Oliveira, having previously relinquished the featherweight championship due to weight cut challenges. Prior to his hiatus, Topuria had indicated a potential return to the octagon between April and June 2026.
Pre-Fight Statements and Exchanges
During a media event leading up to UFC 324, Gaethje criticized Pimblett for allegedly showing disrespect towards fighters including Dustin Poirier. Gaethje described Pimblett's fighting style as "weird" and "awkward." At their weigh-in face-off, Pimblett questioned Gaethje's weight cut; Gaethje responded, "Don't worry about nothing but fighting."
"Justin Gaethje is a legend and I'm going to come out and I'm going to finish him. I'm going to add another legend to my resume and take this interim title back home to Liverpool, England." — Paddy Pimblett
Gaethje described the bout as "the biggest fight of my life," adding, "I cannot wait to carry the stars and stripes on my back and represent this country like it should be represented."
Pimblett also stated that he is a more challenging opponent to figure out than former champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, attributing this to his unique fighting style and the tendency for opponents to underestimate him.
Fight Outcome
Gaethje won the interim lightweight championship by unanimous decision. The judges' scorecards were 48-47, 49-46, and 49-46, all in favor of Gaethje. He also received a Fight of the Night bonus of $100,000, bringing his total post-fight bonuses to 15 in 15 UFC bouts, tying an all-time record.
The fight featured shifting momentum, with Pimblett leading in the initial rounds and Gaethje landing significant strikes in later rounds. Gaethje maintained control during critical moments. Pimblett continued to advance despite damage, delivering his own strikes and leg kicks.
According to UFC statistics, Pimblett landed 155 significant strikes compared to Gaethje's 144, but Gaethje's strikes caused more damage, resulting in two knockdowns of Pimblett. Pimblett attempted no takedowns, while Gaethje secured three.
Post-Fight Medical and Statements
Following the fight, Pimblett was transported to a local Las Vegas hospital for medical care. UFC CEO Dana White confirmed Pimblett sustained a leaky nose and an apparent left orbital fracture. Pimblett's medical care precluded his participation in the post-fight press conference.
"Hey, Scousers do not get knocked out. That Scouser was not going to get knocked out." — Justin Gaethje, on Pimblett's resilience
On Instagram, Pimblett stated he was uninjured and had experienced a strong training camp and weight cut. He attributed his loss to Gaethje being the superior fighter on the night, offered congratulations, and expressed his ambition to secure the undisputed title in the future. He also expressed a desire for a rematch.
One week after the fight, Pimblett reported his face had largely healed, with the primary remaining issue being a scratched cornea, which he attributed to eye pokes from Gaethje. He is targeting a return to competition in the summer of 2026.
Gaethje acknowledged his coach's disapproval of his approach in the first round. Dana White confirmed Gaethje's health post-fight, stating he was "100 percent."
Future Championship Plans
This victory positions Gaethje for a potential title unification fight against undisputed lightweight champion Ilia Topuria. Gaethje expressed interest in this matchup taking place at a UFC White House event, which has been discussed for June 14, 2026. He stated, "There's no way they're keeping me off that card," and "No offer has been made, but that's obviously what we're looking for."
Pimblett plans to seek another opponent to maintain his position in the contender rankings.
UFC 324 Full Fight Card
Main Card (9 p.m. ET, Paramount+)
- Interim lightweight championship: Justin Gaethje def. Paddy Pimblett (Unanimous Decision)
- Bantamweight: Sean O'Malley vs. Song Yadong
- Heavyweight: Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. Derrick Lewis
- Women's flyweight: Natalia Silva vs. Rose Namajunas
- Featherweight: Arnold Allen vs. Jean Silva
Preliminary Card (7 p.m. ET, Paramount+)
- Bantamweight: Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Deiveson Figueiredo (Figueiredo missed weight by 2.5 pounds; fined 25% of purse)
- Middleweight: Ateba Gautier vs. Andrey Pulyaev
- Light heavyweight: Nikita Krylov vs. Modestas Bukauskas
- Flyweight: Alex Perez vs. Charles Johnson (Perez missed weight by 2.5 pounds; fined 25% of purse)
Early Prelims (5 p.m. ET, Paramount+)
- Lightweight: Michael Johnson vs. Alexander Hernandez
- Heavyweight: Josh Hokit vs. Denzel Freeman
- Welterweight: Adam Fugitt vs. Ty Miller
A scheduled bantamweight fight between Cameron Smotherman and Ricky Turcios was canceled after Smotherman fainted post-weigh-in.