TLDR
- Islam Makhachev predicts Justin Gaethje will defeat Paddy Pimblett, citing Gaethje’s wrestling and striking
- Dustin Poirier doesn’t believe Pimblett can take Gaethje down or match his striking power for 25 minutes
- The fight is for the interim lightweight title at UFC 324 on January 24
- Winner will face champion Ilia Topuria, who is on break for personal reasons
- Poirier says he needs to see Pimblett beat Gaethje before considering him elite
Sources: Bloody Elbow | MMA Fighting | MMA Junkie
UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev and former title challenger Dustin Poirier have both predicted Justin Gaethje will defeat Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324 this Saturday. The main event fight will determine the interim lightweight champion.
Makhachev recently gave his prediction in an interview, citing Gaethje’s wrestling and striking skills as the deciding factors. The champion believes these strengths will prove too much for the British fighter to handle.
Poirier Questions Pimblett’s Ability to Compete
Poirier, who has faced Gaethje in the octagon before, shared detailed reasoning on “The Ariel Helwani Show” about why he favors Gaethje. He pointed to Gaethje’s experience in championship-length fights as a major advantage.
“I just think he’s been in those 25-minute fights. He’s been in those dog fights before,” Poirier said.
The Louisiana native doesn’t think Pimblett can take Gaethje down or match his striking power. “I think Paddy is going to have a tough time stopping him on the feet, and I don’t think Paddy is going to get him down, so he’s going to have to fight with him,” Poirier explained.
Justin Gaethje will face Paddy Pimblett for the interim lightweight title in Las Vegas on Jan. 24, Dana White announced. #UFC324 pic.twitter.com/H3YhOLxt4W
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) November 27, 2025
Poirier warned that Pimblett would need to fight with perfect discipline for the entire 25 minutes. “Unless Paddy can keep it disciplined for 25 minutes, keep his distance, picks his shots, Justin is just a bigger puncher, and he’ll put himself in harms way to land one of those shots,” he said.
The former interim champion added that staying away from Gaethje’s power for five full rounds is extremely difficult. He admitted he hasn’t seen enough from Pimblett against elite competition to pick him.
“He’s definitely a legit fighter, a good fighter, but I haven’t seen him beat… if he beats Justin, I’m a believer then,” Poirier stated.
Why This Fight Is Happening Now
The interim title fight was scheduled after current lightweight champion Ilia Topuria took a break from the sport for personal reasons. UFC CEO Dana White announced the Gaethje-Pimblett matchup to keep the division moving forward.
The winner is expected to face Topuria in a title unification bout when the champion returns. This makes Saturday’s fight critical for both fighters’ careers.
Other UFC stars have also shared their predictions for the bout. Fighters have highlighted different aspects of the matchup, with some pointing to Gaethje’s proven striking ability and others mentioning Pimblett’s grappling skills.
Gaethje brings extensive experience in high-level fights to the octagon. He has competed in multiple championship bouts and faced the division’s best fighters throughout his career.
Pimblett has been building momentum in the UFC but has not yet faced an opponent of Gaethje’s caliber. The British fighter will need to prove he belongs among the elite this Saturday.
The fight takes place on January 24 at UFC 324. Both fighters will compete for five rounds in the main event slot.
