TLDR
- Paddy Pimblett faces Justin Gaethje for the interim lightweight title at UFC 324 on January 24
- Pimblett predicts the fight will end in a finish and won’t go to the judges
- The winner will face undisputed champion Ilia Topuria in a unification bout in summer 2026
- This marks Pimblett’s earliest career fight, forcing him to manage weight over the Christmas period
- Pimblett calls Gaethje a “legend” but says he will “put a beat down on him” in the cage
Paddy Pimblett will challenge Justin Gaethje for the interim UFC lightweight title at UFC 324 on January 24. The British fighter has made it clear he expects the fight to end before the final bell.
“Someone’s getting finished,” Pimblett told CoinPoker and Bloody Elbow. “One hundred percent, that’s not going to judges.”
The 29-year-old showed respect for his opponent while maintaining confidence in his abilities. “Gaethje is a legend, and to be able to share the cage with him is an honor,” Pimblett said.
He quickly added that respect would be set aside once the cage door closes. “But that all gets put to one side when I actually get in the cage with him, and I have to put a beat down on him.”
The winner of this bout will move forward to a title unification fight with undisputed champion Ilia Topuria. That match is expected to take place in the summer of 2026.
Pimblett admitted he had hoped for a different path to championship gold. “Obviously, I wanted it to be for the undisputed belts against Ilia Topuria,” he said.
Despite not getting his preferred matchup, Pimblett remains focused on the opportunity. “But I’m still going to be a world champion once I beat Gaethje and lift that interim belt.”
Training Through the Holidays
The January fight date presents unique challenges for the Liverpool native. Pimblett is known for gaining weight between fights and enjoying food during his downtime.
“This is the earliest I’ve fought,” Pimblett explained. “I’ve fought in late February before, but I’ve never fought in January.”
The timing means Christmas celebrations will look different this year. “So it’s going to be a rough Christmas dinner,” he said.
Pimblett detailed the sacrifices required during the holiday season. “There will be no cheese and crackers afterwards and stuff like that. I’m going to have to do a long run that day.”
He acknowledged the importance of the upcoming bout. “It’s the biggest fight of my life and my career to date.”
Fight Preparation on Track
With eight weeks remaining until fight night, Pimblett reported positive progress in his training camp. “We’ve still got eight weeks to go, but everything is flying so far,” he said.
The British lightweight enters the fight as a fan favorite in the division. His UFC record includes wins over Michael Chandler by TKO, King Green by submission, and a knockout victory over Luigi Vendramini.
Gaethje brings extensive experience as a former title contender to the matchup. The two fighters will headline UFC 324 with an interim championship on the line.
UFC 324 takes place on January 24, 2025.
