Justin Gaethje claimed the UFC interim lightweight championship for the second time on Saturday night, outlasting Paddy Pimblett in an exciting slugfest during the UFC 324 main event held in Las Vegas.
In the co-main event, former bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley returned to winning form with a unanimous decision victory over Song Yadong.
Here are five key insights from the inaugural event in the Paramount+ era.
Gaethje Proves He’s Not Done Yet
“The Highlight” is far from finished, as demonstrated in his thrilling win against Pimblett, where he inflicted more damage and outlasted his younger opponent in the later rounds. Many, including myself, questioned if Gaethje’s aggressive fighting style had finally taken its toll after a harsh knockout loss to Max Holloway at UFC 300 in April 2024. However, he has since bounced back with two consecutive wins, showcasing that he still has plenty left in the tank.
This fight reflected a classic Gaethje performance, filled with the grit and fearless approach fans expect. While he may not be at the peak of his abilities, at 37 years old, he remains capable of going the distance, delivering a Fight of the Year contender, and securing a victory.
Gaethje’s determination to reach this point is remarkable. He first won the interim lightweight title in May 2020 but fell short against Khabib Nurmagomedov in a unification bout later that year. After a loss to Charles Oliveira in 2022, he finds himself, four years later, back in contention for a final shot against Ilia Topuria—a testament to his longevity in an exhausting fighting style.
Pimblett Shows Toughness
Despite the loss, Pimblett earned recognition for his resilience against Gaethje. He became the first fighter to take Gaethje the full five rounds, overcoming two knockdowns and landing more significant strikes in three of the rounds, with a total of 156-144 in strike counts.
Gaethje acknowledged this toughness after the fight, remarking that “Scousers—at least this scouser—don’t get knocked out.” Although this defeat was a setback for Pimblett, it could enhance his skill set moving forward and demonstrates that he can compete with elite fighters.
At 31, Pimblett has ample time to re-enter the title mix, stating confidently after the match, “I’ll be back better. It’s as simple as that. You haven’t seen the last of me.”
Tsarukyan Remains Top Contender for Topuria
While Gaethje holds the interim title, Arman Tsarukyan still represents the most formidable challenge for Topuria in the division. Ranked No. 1 before UFC 324, Tsarukyan’s five-fight win streak and a 10-1 record in his last 11 fights make him a deserving candidate for the interim title. However, UFC CEO Dana White seems to believe Tsarukyan needs additional victories to earn another title shot after his last-minute withdrawal from a fight against Islam Makhachev 12 months ago.
Nonetheless, a matchup between Topuria and Tsarukyan appears considerably more competitive on paper than Topuria against Gaethje. Tsarukyan remains the second-best lightweight in the UFC and a significant hurdle for Topuria unless proven otherwise.
Dvalishvili Positioned for a Title Shot
Merab Dvalishvili is likely feeling optimistic about his prospects for a bantamweight title shot following UFC 324. O’Malley and Umar Nurmagomedov each had opportunities to impress the UFC brass but their performances may not have sufficiently swayed opinions for them to be next in line against Petr Yan.
Dvalishvili quickly called for an immediate rematch after losing his title to Yan at UFC 323 in December and may just have a path to getting that opportunity.
Jean Silva’s Wild Performance
We already knew Jean Silva could bring excitement to the Octagon, but his recent bout with Arnold Allen showcased just how daring he can be, particularly when he jumped off his opponent’s back just before the fight concluded. Initial impressions are that “Lord” Silva is a spectacle to watch.
