On January 24, 2026, Justin Gaethje will get one other crack at UFC gold. The 37-year-old light-weight will headline UFC 324 towards rising star Paddy Pimblett for the interim light-weight title on the T-Cell Area in Las Vegas, a struggle Gaethje intends to show into chaos.
Justin Gaethje Able to Spoil Paddy Pimblett’s Celebration at UFC 324
In his typical type, chatting with Carlos Contreras Legaspi, Gaethje laid out precisely what’s at stake. “I’m going to win, I’m going to spoil. I do know that the followers most likely need Paddy and Ilia like they needed Tony and Khabib, and I’m going to f**okay it up.” Gaethje is explicitly referencing one of the crucial notorious narrative arcs in MMA historical past: a struggle that followers desperately needed however by no means received.
The Tony Ferguson vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov matchup was scheduled 5 occasions between 2015 and 2020, but it by no means materialised. Every cancellation felt like a intestine punch to the preventing group. Khabib’s rib harm derailed the primary try in 2015. Ferguson suffered blood in his lungs in 2016. Weight points compelled Khabib out once more that very same 12 months. In 2018, Ferguson tripped on a cable at a press convention and tore his LCL, a second so absurd it felt like cosmic intervention. The ultimate blow got here in 2020 when Khabib remained caught in Russia on account of COVID-19 journey restrictions. By then, the narrative had calcified: this was the struggle that was by no means meant to be.
Gaethje confronted face Ferguson at UFC 249 in Might 2020. Gaethje dismantled Ferguson. The Spotlight absorbed Ferguson’s trademarked ahead stress turned the struggle right into a five-round beatdown that left El Cucuy’s face shredded and unrecognizable. It was one of the crucial dominant interim title performances in UFC historical past.
Now, Gaethje sees the identical narrative setup at UFC 324. Followers had been hoping for Ilia Topuria, the undisputed light-weight champion, to defend towards Pimblett, one other rising favorite with immense charisma and a real following. As an alternative, Topuria has stepped away to deal with private issues, and the UFC has created an interim title bout to fill the void. Gaethje, now on the again finish of his profession, has the prospect to wreck these plans earlier than they even materialise.
Pimblett, 30, has been on a devastating run. His most up-to-date win got here in April 2025 when he dominated and stopped Michael Chandler within the third spherical at UFC 314, placing in essentially the most spectacular efficiency of his profession. Chandler, a former title challenger, was utterly overwhelmed by Pimblett’s tempo, putting, and struggle IQ. After the victory, Pimblett didn’t maintain again: he referred to as out high contenders and declared his intention to turn out to be the undisputed champion. He maintains an undefeated 7-0 file contained in the UFC, and a win over Gaethje would cement him as a respectable drive within the light-weight division.
The winner will likely face Topuria for the undisputed belt later in 2026. For Pimblett, it’s the moment that could propel him into genuine superstardom.
