Gaethje vs. Pimblett Headlines UFC 324 for Interim Title
The highly anticipated UFC 324 event, scheduled for January 24th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, will feature a main event for the interim lightweight title between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett. The news was announced by UFC CEO Dana White. This event will mark the beginning of the new UFC broadcast agreement with Paramount+, and the main card will begin at 9 p.m. ET. Ilia Topuria, current undisputed UFC lightweight champion, will keep his title, but the organization has decided to implement an interim title because Topuria announced that he needs time off for personal reasons.Gaethje, with a record of 26-5, hasn’t fought since his decision victory against Rafael Fiziev in March. At 37 years old, Gaethje had considered retiring if the UFC didn’t offer him a title fight in his next appearance. Gaethje earned the title opportunity by knocking out Dustin Poirier in 2023, but risked that opportunity in 2024 when the company needed a featured fight for UFC 300, accepting a BMF fight against Max Holloway, in which he suffered a knockout loss in the fifth round. Pimblett, with a record of 23-3, has been one of the fastest rising stars since he signed with the UFC in 2021. According to White, the interim title winner is expected to face Topuria in a unification fight later this year. 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. Sean O’Malley (18-3) will face Song Yadong (22-8-1). Alexa Grasso (16-5-1) and Rose Namajunas (15-7) will meet at flyweight. In other featured fights, Derrick Lewis will face the promising Waldo Cortes-Acosta, and featherweights Arnold Allen and Jean Silva will seek to move up in the 145-pound division.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 matchups, and as soon as the issues are resolved, I will let the UFC know that I am ready to begin my return.
Ilia Topuria
