TLDR
- Paddy Pimblett promises to knock out Justin Gaethje within the first three rounds at UFC 324 on January 24
- Pimblett plans to keep the fight standing and trade strikes rather than use his grappling skills
- The British fighter references Max Holloway’s knockout of Gaethje as his blueprint for victory
- Pimblett is favored at -238 odds while Gaethje enters as the underdog at +190
- The fight is for the interim UFC lightweight championship at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas
Sources: MMA Fighting | Sherdog | MMA Junkie
Paddy Pimblett has revealed his plan to knock out Justin Gaethje within the first three rounds at UFC 324 this Saturday in Las Vegas. The British lightweight contender announced his timeline during the pre-fight press conference and recent interviews.
Pimblett told TNT Sport that he expects to finish Gaethje within three rounds by keeping the fight standing. “You’ll see Jan. 24 when we have a perfect game plan, and we finish him within three,” Pimblett said.
The 31-year-old fighter plans to trade strikes with Gaethje rather than rely on his grappling skills. Pimblett is known as one of the strongest grapplers in the UFC, winning three of his seven fights by submission.
Blueprint From Holloway Victory
Pimblett pointed to Max Holloway’s knockout of Gaethje at UFC 300 in April 2024 as his game plan. Holloway famously pointed to the center of the Octagon in the final seconds and knocked out Gaethje with a clean right hand as time expired.
“There’s the blueprint there to beat him, Max [Holloway] did it,” Pimblett explained. “Everyone underestimates my striking, everyone thinks I’m just going to come in and I’m going to take him down, I’m not.”
Pimblett enters UFC 324 with a perfect 7-0 record in the UFC since joining in 2021. His most recent win came against Michael Chandler at UFC 314 in April 2025, where he scored a knockout victory.
The Liverpool native told ESPN he believes the fight won’t last “more than two minutes” if he gets Gaethje to the ground. However, he stressed his intention to prove his striking ability against one of the division’s most dangerous knockout artists.
Gaethje has won 20 of his 26 career victories by knockout or technical knockout. The 37-year-old former interim lightweight champion holds a record of 26-5 overall.
Awkward Style Creates Challenges
Pimblett believes his unique fighting style will give Gaethje problems in preparation. “I’m not normal. He’s not going to be able to get a sparring partner in that grapples like me or strikes like me because I’m a weirdo,” Pimblett told TNT Sport.
The British fighter described his approach as unconventional compared to traditional wrestlers. “I don’t wrestle like a normal person. I don’t shoot double legs, single legs and wrestle like a normal person does,” he said.
Betting odds heavily favor Pimblett entering the fight. According to BetMGM, Pimblett is listed at -238 while Gaethje stands at +190 as the underdog.
Gaethje most recently defeated Rafael Fiziev by unanimous decision at UFC 313 in March 2025. He previously held the interim lightweight championship in May 2020 and currently ranks as the number four contender in the division.
UFC 324 marks the first numbered UFC event to air on Paramount+ rather than pay-per-view in over four years. The main card begins at 9 p.m. ET from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Pimblett ranks as the number five contender in the lightweight division. He has finished two UFC opponents by knockout and three by submission across his seven-fight winning streak with the promotion.
