Gaethje Bloodied Pimblett to Win Interim Gold for a Second
Justin Gaethje defeated Paddy Pimblett by unanimous decision on January 24, 2026, at UFC 324 in Las Vegas. The five-round main event at T-Mobile Arena ended with scores of 49–46, 49–46 and 48–47, giving Gaethje his second interim UFC lightweight championship.
The experienced contender immediately made the fight physical
Gaethje weighed 155 pounds, with Pimblett at 154. Their title assignment matched a former interim champion against a rising contender receiving his first UFC championship opportunity.
Gaethje pressed forward and landed damaging punches early. Pimblett remained in the contest through low kicks, combinations and a willingness to keep exchanging despite the increasing damage.
Heavy connections repeatedly tested Pimblett’s recovery
Gaethje dropped Pimblett during the second round and followed with ground strikes. The challenger survived, preventing the attack from producing an early championship finish.
The later rounds remained punishing. Pimblett found better stretches and continued responding, but Gaethje repeatedly landed the heavier individual blows while resisting attempts to turn the contest into sustained grappling.
The final horn left all three judges with the same winner
Both continued throwing through the fifth before sharing an embrace after twenty-five minutes. The unanimous verdict rewarded Gaethje’s more damaging work across the completed contest.
The interim belt established his position opposite undisputed champion Ilia Topuria. For Pimblett, reaching the final bell demonstrated resilience, but it did not outweigh the sustained impact of Gaethje’s pressure and power on the judges’ cards.
Sources
- UFC: official results and scores
- UFC: date, venue and weights
- Cageside Press: knockdown, exchanges and championship outcome
