TLDR
- Jorge Masvidal believes Justin Gaethje’s UFC 324 victory saved Paddy Pimblett from getting ‘torched’ by Ilia Topuria
- Gaethje defeated Pimblett by decision on January 25, 2026, to win the interim lightweight title
- Masvidal claims both Gaethje and Pimblett are ‘levels below’ Topuria in all fighting aspects
- Topuria mocked Pimblett on social media after the loss, calling him ‘little sausage’
- Masvidal suggests the UFC will protect Pimblett from tough matchups going forward
Sources: Yardbarker | Bloody Elbow | Yardbarker
UFC veteran Jorge Masvidal believes Paddy Pimblett avoided a brutal beating when he lost to Justin Gaethje at UFC 324. The former BMF champion says Gaethje’s victory actually protected the English fighter from facing featherweight champion Ilia Topuria.
Gaethje defeated Pimblett by decision in the interim lightweight title fight at UFC 324. The fight took place on January 25, 2026, and fans rated it as one of the top five brawls in UFC history.
Masvidal shared his thoughts during a recent interview with Death Row MMA. He argued that both Gaethje and Pimblett are far below Topuria’s level.
“It’s a good thing Paddy didn’t win, because if he did, he was going to get torched by Ilia,” Masvidal said. “Both these guys are just levels below Ilia, and that fight really showed it all – on the wrestling, on the striking, on the defense, the offense.”
"It’s a good thing Paddy didn’t win, because if he did, he was going to get torched by Ilia." 👀🤯
Jorge Masvidal says Justin winning saved Paddy from a brutal matchup.
“Both these guys are just levels below Ilia, and that fight really showed it all – on the wrestling, on the… pic.twitter.com/yNoIOJnlx3
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) January 27, 2026
Topuria and Pimblett’s Rivalry
The rivalry between Topuria and Pimblett is well-known in the UFC community. Many fans wanted Pimblett to win against Gaethje specifically to set up a fight with ‘El Matador.’
After Pimblett’s loss, Topuria mocked the English fighter on social media. He posted on X: “Little sausage, the only thing you had to do was beat a 38 year old guy.”
Topuria continued his criticism, writing that Pimblett “just lost the biggest paycheck of your life.” The Spanish fighter also directed comments at Gaethje, telling him he’s “screwed no matter what.”
Masvidal believes Topuria operates on a different level than both fighters. The UFC veteran pointed out that the Gaethje-Pimblett fight revealed clear gaps in their abilities compared to the champion.
UFC 324 Main Event Details
The fight between Gaethje and Pimblett marked the UFC’s new era with Paramount. Both fighters delivered strong performances according to observers.
Gaethje, who is 37 years old, won by decision to claim the interim lightweight title. Pimblett, who is 31, fell short despite what some called the best performance of his career.
Masvidal also suggested the UFC will likely protect Pimblett from difficult matchups going forward. He mentioned fighters like Arman Tsarukyan as examples of opponents the promotion might keep away from the English fighter.
The loss means Pimblett will not face Topuria for the title. Instead, Gaethje will move forward to challenge the Spanish champion.
Topuria is known for his sharp boxing skills and technical abilities. Many analysts believe his style presents serious problems for most fighters in the division.
Masvidal’s comments highlight the significant skill gap he sees between the top of the lightweight division and its champion. The former BMF titleholder made clear he views Topuria as superior in every aspect of mixed martial arts.
Gaethje now faces the task of preparing for Topuria. The interim champion will need to address the weaknesses Masvidal identified if he hopes to unify the titles.
