UFC 324: Justin Gaethje Ends Paddy Pimblett’s Perfect UFC Run; Claims Interim Lightweight Title

Last Updated:January 25, 2026, 16:52 IST

Justin Gaethje ended Paddy Pimblett’s UFC streak at UFC 324 with a dominant win. Sean O’Malley, Umar Nurmagomedov, and Natalia Silva also scored key victories on the card.

Justin Gaethje (L) and Paddy Pimblett (R) exchange punches (AFP)

Justin Gaethje didn’t whisper a reminder at UFC 324 — he punched one into the division’s memory.

The newly crowned two-time interim lightweight champion snapped Paddy Pimblett’s unbeaten UFC run with a throwback performance built on pressure, violence and pure stubborn will.

It was chaotic. It was brutal. And it was unmistakably Gaethje.

From the opening bell, Gaethje forced Pimblett into survival mode. He pressed forward, swung with intent and refused to give Paddy space to breathe, let alone settle. Pimblett hit the canvas multiple times but never stopped coming, mounting a late surge that briefly put Gaethje in trouble.

Still, the damage was done early. When the final horn sounded, the judges had it 49-46, 49-46 and 48-47 — Gaethje, across the board.

After the fight, Gaethje made it clear he knew exactly what kind of battle he was signing up for.

“[Going to war with me] was his only choice," Gaethje said at UFC 324’s post-fight press conference. “I knew he wasn’t going to quit. He’s not a quitter. I’ve never seen him quit, never seen him give up. And luckily, I found some success early."

Despite the loss, Pimblett used the moment to highlight men’s mental health — something he’s consistently spoken about — and showed grace in defeat.

“Obviously, I’m a Liverpool fan, and I know there’ll be loads of Liverpool fans here, there’s a Liverpool legend what passed away in the past few months, Diogo Jota, and his brother Andre, so I’d like to dedicate that performance to them, even though I didn’t win."

The co-main event delivered a quieter but important result.

Sean O’Malley snapped a two-fight skid with a unanimous decision win over Song Yadong in a competitive, technical affair — not vintage “Suga," but exactly what he needed.

Elsewhere, Umar Nurmagomedov outclassed Deiveson Figueiredo over three rounds, while Natalia Silva continued her rise with a unanimous decision win over Rose Namajunas.

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