Gaethje beats Pimblett in thriller to win UFC interim title
Justin Gaethje took home a unanimous decision win over Paddy Pimblett in an early candidate for Fight of the Year, claiming the interim lightweight championship in the UFC 324 main event.
The judges scored the fight 48-47, 49-46, and 49-46 in Gaethje's favor Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Gaethje, 37, is now a two-time UFC interim lightweight champion after previously winning the title in May 2020.
Gaethje and Pimblett delivered an instant classic, exchanging heavy blows on the feet in all five rounds. Gaethje outlanded Pimblett 200-170 in total strikes, while Pimblett had a 156-144 edge in significant strikes.
Gaethje praised Pimblett's toughness afterward, calling him a "warrior."
"That f----r is right. Scousers do not get knocked out - that Scouser does not get knocked out," Gaethje said in his postfight interview. "My god, what a f-----g gangster."
Gaethje handed Pimblett the first loss of his UFC career. Pimblett is now 7-1 in the promotion. The 31-year-old Liverpool native had won nine in a row coming in.
"I wanted to leave with that belt, but there's no other man I'd rather lose to," Pimblett said in his postfight interview. "Justin Gaethje is someone I've loved watching, growing up watching the UFC. It shows why he's a legend right there."
As the interim champion, Gaethje is next in line to challenge Ilia Topuria for the undisputed title later this year. Topuria announced in November that he was taking a hiatus due to personal matters, leading the UFC to book Saturday's main event. Topuria said last week he expects to return to the Octagon between April and June.
Topuria ripped Pimblett's performance in the aftermath of the fight.
Little sausage, the only thing you had to do was beat a 38 year old guy. You just lost the biggest paycheck of your life. You were going to get rich if you won. Justin, all I can say is congratulations… and I’d like to tell you to get ready, but you’re screwed no matter what.
— Ilia Topuria (@Topuriailia) January 25, 2026
Gaethje took an early lead in Round 1, dropping Pimblett with an uppercut and nearly finishing the fight. Gaethje scored another knockdown in the second round. He got on top of Pimblett and landed heavy ground-and-pound to close the frame.
Pimblett had a massive third round, seemingly turning the tide. He tagged Gaethje with crisp jabs and was much busier than his opponent. But Gaethje regained momentum in the fourth and fifth rounds, once again walking forward and landing the more damaging shots.
Gaethje has now won two in a row and is 4-1 in his last five appearances. Gaethje was ranked No. 4 in the 155-pound division coming in.
Pimblett suffered his first loss since September 2018 when he fought for the Cage Warriors lightweight title in his native Liverpool. He was ranked fifth in the weight class entering Saturday's main event.
"I'll be back better," Pimblett said. "It's as simple as that. You haven't seen the last of me."