• Justin Gaethje defeated Paddy Pimblett by unanimous decision to win the UFC interim lightweight title.
  • Gaethje scored multiple knockdowns and outlanded Pimblett 219-177 in total strikes.
  • Pimblett suffered his first UFC loss; judges scored the fight 49-46, 49-46 and 48-47.
  • The outcome sets up a likely unification bout with undisputed champion Ilia Topuria.

Gaethje claims interim belt in five-round war

LAS VEGAS — Justin Gaethje added another highlight to his career Saturday night, winning the UFC interim lightweight championship at UFC 324 with a unanimous decision over Paddy Pimblett. The action-packed main event inside T-Mobile Arena ended with judges’ scores of 49-46, 49-46 and 48-47 in Gaethje’s favor.

Multiple knockdowns shift momentum

Early in the fight, Gaethje put Pimblett on the canvas with a right uppercut against the cage in round one, and again landed a right hand that sent Pimblett down in the second. Gaethje finished that second round on top, landing heavy elbows and forearms while Pimblett bled from a cut above his right eye.

“That Scouser does not get knocked out,” Gaethje said after the fight, referencing Pimblett’s pre-fight claim about fighters from Liverpool. “This is a crazy sport, an amazing life, and I’m so thankful to share it with you guys.”

Fight stats and key moments

According to UFC Stats, Gaethje outlanded Pimblett 219-177 in total strikes. Pimblett landed a steady volume of kicks to the body and legs, but Gaethje repeatedly pressed him to the fence and forced the action. In the fifth, Pimblett attempted a late takedown push but Gaethje defended and landed some of the hardest strikes of the round.

Pimblett, who promised to stand and trade for five rounds, kept his word but took his first UFC loss. The 31-year-old had been 7-0 inside the promotion before Saturday.

What’s next: Topuria unification likely

Gaethje’s win sets up a likely unification bout with undisputed lightweight champion Ilia Topuria. Topuria had announced a leave of absence early in 2026 for personal matters but indicated he wanted the winner to fight between April and June. If schedules align, a Gaethje–Topuria unification could follow in early summer.

Gaethje’s title history and legacy

The 37-year-old Gaethje now owns multiple interim lightweight titles, having previously captured an interim belt in 2020 against Tony Ferguson. He also fought Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 254, losing by submission in what became Nurmagomedov’s final fight.

Gaethje entered the bout as a betting underdog and added another signature win to a career built on high-paced striking, constant forward pressure and fan-friendly fights. With the interim title now around his waist, attention turns quickly to the undisputed champion and a potential unification showdown.

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