TLDR
- Justin Gaethje defeated Paddy Pimblett by unanimous decision (48-47, 49-46, 49-46) at UFC 324 to win the interim lightweight title
- Gaethje mocked Pimblett’s battered face after the fight, saying ‘Look at your face motherf*****’ in response to pre-fight comments
- The event broke viewership records on Paramount+ and both fighters earned $100,000 Fight of the Night bonuses
- The loss was Pimblett’s first defeat since joining the UFC in 2021, dropping his record to 23-4
- Dan Hooker accused Pimblett of crossing the line with past comments about his family, while Matt Brown criticized the fight as sloppy
Sources: Bloody Elbow | MMA Junkie | FOX Sports
Justin Gaethje defeated Paddy Pimblett by unanimous decision at UFC 324 on Saturday night to claim the interim lightweight championship. The fight went all five rounds at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, with judges scoring it 48-47, 49-46, and 49-46 in Gaethje’s favor.
After the 25-minute battle, Gaethje mocked Pimblett’s battered appearance with a harsh post-fight comment. “Look at your face motherf*****,” Gaethje said, responding to Pimblett’s pre-fight promises.
The event broke viewership records on Paramount+, drawing millions of viewers for the streaming platform’s UFC debut. Both fighters earned $100,000 Fight of the Night bonuses for their performance.
Pimblett Suffers First UFC Loss
The loss marked Pimblett’s first defeat since joining the UFC roster in 2021. His overall MMA record now stands at 23 wins and 4 losses from 27 total fights.
Pimblett, 31, showed respect to his opponent after the fight. “There is no man I’d rather lose to than the Highlight; he is someone I loved watching growing up and it shows why he is a legend,” Pimblett said.
He acknowledged that Gaethje landed a crucial body shot in the first round that changed the fight’s momentum. “I thought I was winning the round up to that point,” Pimblett explained.
Pimblett agreed with the closest scorecard of 48-47. “I think 48-47 was a fair scorecard,” he said, adding that fans haven’t seen the last of him.
Gaethje praised Pimblett’s toughness after the fight, calling it a legendary battle. He highlighted Pimblett’s resilience despite dropping him multiple times during the five rounds.
Controversy Follows Pimblett After Loss
Days after the fight, UFC fighter Dan Hooker accused Pimblett of crossing a line with past comments. Hooker referenced remarks Pimblett made in November 2025 after Hooker’s submission loss to Arman Tsarukyan at UFC Qatar.
“Name a fighter in history that’s ever made a joke about someone’s mother,” Hooker told Ariel Helwani. “As fighters, that’s just a line that we don’t cross. You don’t talk about family.”
Hooker said Pimblett wanted a reaction and got one. “He wants to say some horrible s***, I’m going to say some horrible s*** back,” Hooker stated.
The UFC reportedly worried about a potential confrontation between the two fighters at the hotel in Qatar. Hooker confirmed he wants to fight Pimblett after the comments.
Not everyone praised the UFC 324 main event as highly skilled. Veteran fighter Matt Brown criticized the fight as a “sloppy, undisciplined fight” on his podcast.
Brown said he expected better technique from a title fight. “What we seen on Saturday was two of the toughest guys on the planet swinging for the fences with no skill hardly at all,” Brown said.
He added that neither fighter showed they were ready to challenge reigning lightweight champion Ilia Topuria. Brown called it a slugfest rather than a high-level martial arts display.
Gaethje is expected to face Topuria later this year for the undisputed lightweight championship. Topuria was unavailable for UFC 324 due to personal issues.
