TLDR
- Justin Gaethje faces Paddy Pimblett for the interim lightweight title at UFC 324 on January 24 in Las Vegas
- Gaethje’s coach Trevor Wittman says this is their last run and they won’t continue if they lose this fight
- Gaethje believes Arman Tsarukyan deserved the title shot but lost it after multiple behavioral issues
- The 37-year-old fighter has lost both previous attempts at the full UFC lightweight championship
- Gaethje’s coach insists this is not a retirement fight and that Gaethje has not ‘let go’ yet
Sources: Bloody Elbow | MMA Weekly
Justin Gaethje will face Paddy Pimblett for the interim lightweight championship at UFC 324 on Saturday, January 24, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The 37-year-old fighter’s coach has called this his final opportunity to win UFC gold.
Gaethje told TNT Sports he is focused entirely on the fight with Pimblett. When asked about a potential future matchup with current champion Ilia Topuria, he said he doesn’t plan on being alive after the fight.
Why Tsarukyan Lost His Title Shot
Gaethje addressed why Arman Tsarukyan was passed over for the interim title fight despite being the number one ranked contender. Tsarukyan submitted Dan Hooker in Qatar in November to cement his position at the top of the division.
However, Tsarukyan headbutted Hooker during their final face-off just 24 hours before the fight. This wasn’t his first controversial incident.
Tsarukyan was involved in a physical altercation with a fan before his win over Charles Oliveira at UFC 300 in 2024. He also pulled out of a scheduled title fight against Islam Makhachev just one day before the bout.
“Tsarukyan is definitely probably more deserving,” Gaethje told New York Post Sports. “But the guy f***** up multiple times, and this is something you cannot do.”
Gaethje explained that the UFC invests heavily in promoting title fights. When fighters pull out at the last minute or create problems, the promotion gets upset.
“They put a lot of money, a lot of time, resources into promoting these fights, and if you f*** it up like that, they’re going to be pissed off,” Gaethje said. “Then he head butts Dan Hooker on the scale. That’s also something you cannot do.”
Such a good feeling getting to Vegas and locking in. 5 more sleeps. Can’t wait to perform. #ufc324 pic.twitter.com/9eFSCCGS4G
— Justin Gaethje 🇺🇸 (@Justin_Gaethje) January 19, 2026
Final Run at the Title
Gaethje has held the interim lightweight title before but lost both fights for the undisputed championship. He was defeated by Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira in those title bouts.
After his win over Rafael Fiziev in March, Gaethje threatened to retire if his next fight wasn’t for a title. He has since walked back those comments.
“I definitely got what I asked for, it was more my manager putting me in that position,” Gaethje said. “We’re emotional beings, you know, and we’re petty. I take things personal, and I thought I’d earned something.”
His longtime coach Trevor Wittman confirmed this would be Gaethje’s last attempt at the championship. “This is our last run. If we don’t win this fight, we’re not going on,” Wittman told ESPN MMA.
Wittman made clear they won’t continue fighting just for money. “We’re not gonna be the guy out there trying to fight for money and trying to chase cash for trauma,” he said.
Despite this being labeled a final run, Wittman insisted Gaethje is not treating the fight as a retirement bout. “This is not a retirement fight,” Wittman told ESPN. “He is not letting go.”
Gaethje currently holds a professional record of 26-5, while Pimblett enters the fight at 23-3. The winner will face Topuria later this year for the undisputed lightweight championship.
Topuria has stepped away from the octagon due to personal reasons but insists he will return within the next six months. The early prelims for UFC 324 are expected to begin at 10pm GMT on Saturday, with the main event starting around 4am GMT on Sunday.
