Gaethje vs Pimblett headlines UFC 324: Interim Lightweight Title on the Line!

Gaethje vs. Pimblett to Headline UFC 324 for Interim Title

The expected interim lightweight title fight between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett will be the main event of UFC 324, which will take place on January 24 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. This was announced by UFC CEO Dana White. This event will mark the beginning of the new UFC domestic broadcast agreement with Paramount+ and will have a prime time slot at 9 p.m. ET. White revealed the news during Thursday’s NFL game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Dallas Cowboys. Ilia Topuria, current undisputed UFC lightweight champion, will keep his title. However, the promotion opted to implement an interim title in January, after the 28-year-old fighter announced that he needed to take some time off for personal reasons.

I will not fight in the first quarter of next year. I am going through a difficult time in my personal life. I want to focus on my children and resolve this situation as soon as possible. I don’t want to delay the division. The UFC will make the necessary fights and, as soon as the issues are resolved, I will let the UFC know that I am ready to begin my return.

Ilia Topuria

Gaethje, with a record of 26-5, hasn’t fought since his decision victory against Rafael Fiziev in March. The 37-year-old fighter had expressed that he would likely retire from MMA if the UFC didn’t schedule him a title fight in his next appearance. Gaethje earned the opportunity for the lightweight title by knocking out Dustin Poirier in 2023, but risked that opportunity in 2024 when the company needed a main event for UFC 300. Gaethje accepted a BMF fight against Max Holloway and suffered a knockout loss in the fifth round. Fighting out of Denver, Gaethje won an interim championship by knocking out Tony Ferguson in 2020. He failed to unify the titles against Khabib Nurmagomedov that same year. Pimblett, with a record of 23-3, has been one of the fastest rising stars in the sport since signing with the UFC in 2021. The 30-year-old Liverpool native has a 7-0 record inside the octagon, with notable victories over Ferguson and Michael Chandler. According to White, the interim title winner is expected to face Topuria in a unification fight later this year.

Other Featured Fights at UFC 324

In the co-main event of UFC 324, women’s bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison (19-1) will defend her title against former two-division champion Amanda Nunes (23-5), who is returning from retirement for her first appearance since June 2023. In addition, White announced the participation of several former UFC champions at UFC 324. Former bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley (18-3) will face contender Song Yadong (22-8-1). Alexa Grasso (16-5-1) and Rose Namajunas (15-7), both former UFC champions, will meet at flyweight. Heavyweight Derrick Lewis (29-12) will face the promising contender Waldo Cortes-Acosta (16-2), and ranked featherweights Arnold Allen (20-3) and Jean Silva (16-3) will seek to climb the 145-pound division.