Paddy Pimblett has laid out his plan to become a two-division UFC champion following his upcoming interim lightweight title fight against Justin Gaethje at UFC 324, scheduled for January 24 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The Liverpool fighter emphasized that he intends to focus on defending his lightweight title before moving up to pursue additional gold.
The UFC 324 event marks a major occasion as the organization’s debut broadcast on Paramount+ under a new $7.7 billion agreement. Pimblett, holding a 23-3 professional record, will go head-to-head with Gaethje, a former interim lightweight champion ranked fourth in the division. The winner is projected to challenge Ilia Topuria for the undisputed lightweight championship later in 2026.
Pimblett’s Ambition: Securing Lightweight Supremacy Before Chasing Second Title
In discussions with MMA Junkie, Pimblett described his current phase as “Champ time.” The 30-year-old fighter is determined to solidify his status as the best at 155 pounds prior to targeting another division. He stated,
“Champ time. I’m about to win this belt”
?Paddy Pimblett, UFC Fighter
He underlined his approach to becoming a “champ-champ” but insisted that consistent title defenses must come first. Pimblett explained,
“I want to be champ-champ, but title defenses come first, You can’t go up and be champ‑champ if you don’t defend your title and prove that you’re the best in that division. I don’t want to be around that long chasing Jon Jones’ record or Demetrious Johnson’s record. I don’t want to be fighting until I’m 40.”
?Paddy Pimblett, UFC Fighter
His goals extend toward the welterweight division, currently held by Islam Makhachev after Makhachev moved up from lightweight. In a separate interview with Red Corner MMA, Pimblett outlined his vision for after securing the lightweight belt:
“I’ll win this interim belt. Then I’ll beat up Ilia and take the proper belt, defend that, and then I’ll go up and win the welterweight belt.”
?Paddy Pimblett, UFC Fighter
Context Behind the Interim Lightweight Title Fight
The urgency for an interim lightweight title fight arose when Ilia Topuria, who won the undisputed belt by knocking out Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 in June 2025, announced a temporary hiatus from competition in early 2026, citing personal reasons and commitments to his children. This prompted the UFC to arrange the interim title bout to avoid stalling the division.
Justin Gaethje, Pimblett’s opponent, is a seasoned competitor with a 26-5 record and 20 knockouts. Gaethje previously won an interim lightweight title in 2020 by defeating Tony Ferguson but later lost in a unification match to Khabib Nurmagomedov. His experience poses the toughest challenge of Pimblett’s UFC career so far.
Pimblett enters the fight ranked fifth in the lightweight division, boasting seven consecutive UFC wins. His latest victory was a third-round technical knockout over Michael Chandler at UFC 314 in April 2025.
Why Pimblett Rejects Long Title Reigns Like Jon Jones’
Though Pimblett aims for championship success, he made it clear his strategy differs from other dominant UFC champions. When questioned about pursuing records for the most title defenses, such as Jon Jones’ 13 or Demetrious Johnson’s 11 consecutive defenses, Pimblett dismissed the idea, saying,
“I don’t want to be around that long chasing Jon Jones’ record or Demetrious Johnson’s record, I don’t want to be fighting until I’m 40.”
?Paddy Pimblett, UFC Fighter
This statement highlights his preference for a shorter, more concentrated championship run rather than an extended quest to break historic defense records.
Current Lightweight Division Dynamics and Pimblett’s UFC Run
The lightweight division’s hierarchy is unsettled. Arman Tsarukyan, currently ranked number one, defeated Dan Hooker in November and has asserted his claim to a title shot. His omission from the interim title fight has drawn critique, with some observers questioning Pimblett’s selection due to his lack of victories over top-10 opponents.
Pimblett’s ascent in the UFC began with a first-round knockout of Luigi Vendramini in September 2021. Since then, he has earned five Performance of the Night awards and defeated competitors such as Rodrigo Vargas, Jordan Leavitt, King Green, and Michael Chandler. Notably, six of his seven UFC wins did not go to the judges’ scorecards, underscoring his striking effectiveness.
This trajectory places Pimblett at a pivotal moment in his career, poised for a defining title bout that could set the tone for his pursuit of dual championships.
