On Saturday, the UFC launched its 2026 season with UFC 324, the first numbered event broadcast on Paramount+. Headlining the card was Justin Gaethje, one of the sport’s most thrilling competitors, who delivered a brutal five-round battle against Paddy Pimblett to secure the interim lightweight championship for the second time. Watching closely was Max Holloway, the reigning BMF champion who famously defeated Gaethje at UFC 300 in 2024.
With firsthand experience beating Gaethje himself, Holloway offered an intense and emotional live reaction to the fight, sharing his excitement as Gaethje exerted control during the bout. Despite Pimblett’s resilience and moments of success, Gaethje’s aggression largely dictated the pace, impressing fans like Holloway.
Holloway’s Intense Play-by-Play During UFC 324 Main Event
From the outset, Holloway was visibly fired up as Gaethje landed heavy strikes on Pimblett.
“Did he hurt him? He did hurt him!”
Holloway exclaimed as Gaethje dropped Pimblett early in the fight. He continued expressing disbelief, saying,
“Oh my god! He did hurt him. What the hell? With what? The wind? Bro, this guy punches hard.”
The first round set a frenzied tone, with Holloway dubbing it a ‘wild first round.’
Throughout the fight, Holloway highlighted the relentless back-and-forth exchanges.
“These guys are just wanging! … ‘You punch me, I punch you.’ This is Fight of the Night so far,”
he noted, capturing the brutal pace. As the bout progressed, Holloway reacted with mounting tension, especially when Pimblett was again knocked down in the penultimate round.
“Holy s—. Things are not looking good. But again, Gaethje is getting punched a lot too,”
he said, emphasizing both fighters’ toughness.
When Pimblett showed grit under pressure, Holloway remarked,
“Bro, Paddy is tough. He is tough, bro. This is nuts. The pace is high.”
His enthusiastic commentary ended with praise for Gaethje’s performance:
“Fight of the freakin’ year candidate. What a fight, man. Justin Gaethje is a legend.”
Gaethje’s Preference for a Clash with Holloway Over Other Challengers
Following his victory, Gaethje revealed his desire for a rematch against Max Holloway rather than facing Ilia Topuria, whose return date remains uncertain. The interim lightweight champion expressed hopes that Topuria would either move to welterweight or remain inactive long enough to vacate the lightweight title.
Addressing his interest ahead of Holloway’s upcoming BMF title fight against Charles Oliveira at UFC 326, Gaethje told TNT Sports, “I love it.” He added,
“I hope Max wins. I hope Ilia goes up and then I can fight Max on the White House card and take the BMF belt and the championship.”
This shows Gaethje’s intent to unify titles and settle the score with Holloway, highlighting the high stakes within the lightweight division.
The Significance of UFC 324 and What Lies Ahead for the Lightweight Division
UFC 324 not only showcased the relentless toughness and skill of its competitors but also set the stage for compelling future matchups, particularly between Gaethje and Holloway. With Gaethje reclaiming the interim lightweight championship and Holloway holding the BMF title, the lightweight division is poised for a critical showdown. Fans and fighters alike are anticipating the potential rematch that could determine supremacy and reshape the title landscape.
For Max Holloway, witnessing Gaethje’s triumph sparked both excitement and urgency, underlying his readiness to defend his symbolically significant BMF championship and possibly seek revenge. The UFC 324 fight also reinforced Gaethje’s reputation as one of MMA’s most ferocious and entertaining fighters, fueling anticipation for the bouts ahead.
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