Gaethje vs. Pimblett: Stellar Clash at UFC 324 for the Interim Title
The world of mixed martial arts is preparing for an unmissable event. Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett will face each other in a fight for the interim lightweight title in the main event of UFC 324, which will take place on January 24 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. This event will mark the beginning of the new era of UFC broadcasting in the country, with Paramount+. The main card will begin at 9 p.m. ET. The current undisputed UFC lightweight champion, Ilia Topuria, will not participate in this event. The fighter announced that he needs to take some time to attend to personal matters. The company decided to implement an interim title to maintain activity in the division.Gaethje, with a record of 26-5, is coming off a decision victory against Rafael Fiziev in March. The 37-year-old fighter had considered retirement, but the opportunity to fight for the title motivated him to continue. Gaethje earned a title shot by knocking out Dustin Poirier in 2023. In 2024, he accepted a fight against Max Holloway and suffered a knockout loss in the fifth round. Pimblett, with a record of 23-3, has been one of the fastest rising stars since signing with the UFC in 2021. The 30-year-old fighter from Liverpool has a 7-0 record inside the octagon, with notable victories over Tony Ferguson and Michael Chandler. The interim title winner will face Topuria in a unification fight later this year.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
