Justin Gaethje is in hot pursuit of the Lightweight title for perhaps the final time.
On January 24, UFC 324 will mark the return of Octagon action in 2026. Atop the card, Gaethje will once again compete for an interim Lightweight title opposite Paddy Pimblett. It’s a bit of a surprise matchup considering top-ranked contender Arman Tsarukyan has been sidelined entirely, but nevertheless, the victor is expected to face undisputed champion Ilia Topuria later in the year once his personal issues are resolved.
Though he enters as the older man, Gaethje is definitely a live dog opposite the surging Pimblett. He’s the heavier hitter by a fair margin and has more elite experience, which could come in handy in their five-round title fight. If Gaethje manages to pull off the upset, his reward is one of the nastiest boxers in UFC history, a potential matchup that both scares and excites the veteran.
“Ilia, I trust in my A to B, it’s what I have to trust in,” Gaethje told ESPN Deportes of the possible Topuria bout (via MMAFighting). “I trust in my intuition. I trust in my ability to judge distance and time and just be there. This sport is so crazy. Anything can happen. There’s a reason why we’re all on the edge of our seats every fight because anything can happen at any moment. So again, it comes down to not making mistakes against a guy like that.
“Not eating his right hand. Not walking into his right hand. His left hook, his 2-3 is one of the best combinations I’ve seen in this sport, so it’s a beautiful challenge and I love how scared I’ll be.”
Gaethje has been open about his desire to compete at the UFC White House event in June, and defeating Pimblett would line him up well for that opportunity. That hypothetical headliner also requires Topuria to have his affairs sorted by then, but it’s hard to imagine a better way for Gaethje to cap off his already-legendary career. The odds of that storybook ending are long, but Gaethje has everything to gain starting at UFC 324.
