LAS VEGAS – A pivotal fight is on the horizon this Saturday in the main event of UFC 324 as Paddy Pimblett faces off against Justin Gaethje for the interim UFC lightweight championship. This match not only signifies Pimblett’s initial chance to seize UFC gold but also appears to be Gaethje’s last opportunity to win a title.
Gaethje has previously held the interim title and briefly held the BMF championship, but has yet to capture the Undisputed Championship. Side by side, Pimblett only has seven professional fights in the Octagon so far and is earning this shot largely due to lightweight champ Ilia Topuria stepping aside amid personal circumstances.
As the fight approaches, it brings with it the promise for Pimblett to validate the excitement that has swirled around him since he debuted in the UFC in 2021.
“I underestimated Jared a bit and obviously got a very bad injury in the first round that a lot of other fighters would have stopped fighting from,” Pimblett said referring to his last fight with Jared Gordon in December 2022. “But I had to switch things up. Obviously, I fought Jared, and then I got married a couple of months later and my wife was pregnant like two months later, so that changed a lot, becoming a father.”
Pimblett holds a record of 7-0 in the UFC, registering five wins via stoppage and demonstrating a high-profile personality that can elevate the spectacle and sell tickets. Despite that, his journey hasn’t been entirely uneventful.
A victory over Gaethje would lead Pimblett into a wait-and-see period regarding the future, particularly whether Topuria resumes his reign, although a move to welterweight has been discussed as a viable option for the champion.
“I think [Topuria] is a very good fighter, but I think I’m going to punch his head in,” Pimblett confidently stated about a potential encounter, asserting, “Once I beat Justin, I’ll beat Ilia and then I’ll beat whoever is next.”
Notably, this fight represents a landmark moment in UFC’s history as the first event under the new seven-year contract with Paramount. Pimblett feels his participation in this premiere event conveys his growth and readiness to deliver explosive performances.
With all eyes on him, Pimblett is ready to turn aspirations into reality at UFC 324.
