Paddy Pimblett’s Ambitious Road to Two-Division UFC Championship
Paddy Pimblett has revealed his lofty goal of securing two titles in the UFC following his interim lightweight title fight against Justin Gaethje at UFC 324 on January 24. The fighter from Liverpool has emphasized that he must focus on defending his current title before considering a move to a higher weight class.
Pimblett, with a professional record of 23 wins and 3 losses, is set to face Gaethje in the main event at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. This fight will headline the UFC’s inaugural event on Paramount+ as part of a new $7.7 billion broadcasting agreement. The victor is anticipated to compete against Ilia Topuria for the undisputed lightweight championship later in 2026.
Pimblett’s Title Ambitions After UFC 324
In an interview with MMA Junkie, Pimblett shared his long-term vision for championship success. Addressing the current phase of his career, he stated, “Champ time. I’m about to win this belt.” The 30-year-old is determined to establish himself at 155 pounds before seeking a second title.
“I aspire to become a champ-champ, but defending my title comes first,” Pimblett noted. “You can’t move up and claim dual titles without proving yourself as the best in your division first. I don’t intend to chase the records of Jon Jones or Demetrious Johnson; I’m not looking to fight until I’m 40.”
Pimblett’s championship aspirations also include welterweight, currently held by Islam Makhachev, who has transitioned from lightweight. In a December discussion with Red Corner MMA, he outlined his plan: “First, I’ll win this interim title, then I’ll defeat Ilia for the main title, defend that, and ultimately claim the welterweight championship.”
Gaethje’s Experience and Challenges Ahead
Pimblett’s journey to UFC 324 gained momentum when Topuria announced in November his withdrawal from the first quarter of 2026 due to personal issues. Topuria obtained the lightweight title in June 2025 but has chosen to focus on family matters. The UFC decided to introduce an interim title fight instead of delaying the division.
Gaethje, positioned fourth in the lightweight division, is experienced in interim title scenarios, having captured it by defeating Tony Ferguson in 2020, only to lose in a unification bout against Khabib Nurmagomedov. With a record of 26 wins and 5 losses, including 20 victories by knockout, Gaethje presents the toughest challenge of Pimblett’s UFC career.
Pimblett enters the ring ranked fifth in the lightweight division, having achieved seven consecutive wins in the UFC. His latest victory occurred via a third-round technical knockout against Michael Chandler at UFC 314 in April 2025.
Pimblett on Not Pursuing Records
While Pimblett has his sights set on championship glory, he made it clear that he is not interested in chasing the title defense records of Jon Jones (13 defenses across various divisions) or Demetrious Johnson (11 consecutive defenses in flyweight). He stated, “I don’t want to be around that long chasing records. I don’t want to be fighting until I’m 40.”
The interim title fight at UFC 324 unfolds amid changes in the lightweight division. Arman Tsarukyan, the top-ranked contender, recently defeated Dan Hooker and has voiced his belief that he deserves a title shot. Critics have pointed out that Pimblett’s selection for the interim title fight may be premature given his lack of victories over top-10 opponents.
