Dustin Poirier has shared a hanging evaluation of how the UFC 324 foremost occasion will go down.
UFC’s first numbered occasion of 2026 is slated to be headlined by an interim light-weight title bout between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett this Saturday, January 24, at T-Cellular Enviornment in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Gaethje seems to be getting into the twilight of his career, and UFC 324 may mark his last alternative to compete for a title. Pimblett, in the meantime, stays undefeated within the UFC and is extensively anticipated to deliver a more polished game plan into the matchup.
That perspective is echoed by the betting markets, the place oddsmakers have “The Spotlight” priced at roughly +450 throughout most sportsbooks to safe a knockout or TKO victory. The percentages make sense, contemplating “The Baddy” has by no means suffered a knockout loss in his skilled profession.
Regardless of having confronted Gaethje twice and struggling a knockout loss in a kind of bouts, Poirier nonetheless believes his former rival possesses the tools to secure a finish at UFC 324, even at this stage of his profession.
Dustin Poirier Thinks Justin Gaethje Will End Paddy Pimblett At UFC 324
Throughout a latest look on The Ariel Helwani Present, Dustin Poirier shared his ideas on the interim light-weight showdown between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324.
“The Diamond” believes Gaethje can get the job completed inside 5 rounds, citing the previous BMF titleholder’s in depth expertise in chaotic, stand-and-trade battles as a significant factor that might pose critical issues for Pimblett within the matchup.
“I believe Justin stops him, Poirier stated. “I simply suppose [Gaethje] been in these 25-minute fights. He’s been in these dogfights earlier than. I believe Paddy goes to have a tricky time stopping him on the toes, and I don’t suppose Paddy goes to get him down, so he’s going to must battle with him. Until Paddy can preserve it disciplined for 25 minutes, preserve his distance, and decide his pictures, Justin is only a greater puncher, and he’ll put himself in hurt’s technique to land a kind of pictures. It’s powerful to remain away for 25 minutes.”
Gaethje heads into UFC 324 following a unanimous resolution victory over Rafael Fiziev at UFC 313 in March 2025. “The Spotlight” has posted a 3-2 document over his final 5 outings and at the moment stands at 9-5 in his UFC profession, which incorporates six wins by knockout.
In the meantime, “The Baddy” final competed at UFC 314 in April 2025, the place he secured a third-round knockout victory over former title challenger Michael Chandler. Pimblett at the moment holds an unbeaten 7-0 document within the UFC.
