UFC Fight Week: Championship or swan song for Gaethje? 

UFC Photo: Justin "The Highlight" Gaethje, left, and Paddy "The Baddy" Pimblett headline UFC 324 to open the promotion's new deal to be broadcast on Paramount+. The fight will be for the Interim Lightweight Championship and will take place Saturday, Jan. 24.

By Jon Johnson

jonjohnsonnews@gmail.com

LAS VEGAS – The wait is nearly over as Fight Week for UFC 324 has commenced for the first event partnered with Paramount+. The inaugural event brings the Interim Lightweight Championship Title fight between Justin “The Highlight” Gaethje (26-5) and Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett (23-3) to the homes of everyone with a Paramount+ subscription at no extra cost. 

Headlining the event is Safford native Gaethje and the UK’s Pimblett, and the question around the water cooler is whether Justin will spoil plans for a Pimblett versus Ilia Topuria unification title bout or if Pimblett will “retire” Gaethje. 

For his plans, Justin has publicly said he intends to finish Pimblett and then defeat Topuria on the upcoming White House card for the Lightweight Championship. He said he would also like to have another shot at a couple of fights he lost, and wants to battle both Max “Blessed” Holloway and Charles Oliveira, who are set to face each other at UFC 326 (also live on Paramount+) for the BMF Championship. 

“This is the last chapter of my career,” Gaethje said in a UFC promotional video. “I want to be remembered.” 

Watch the UFC’s countdown promotion video here: UFC 324 Countdown

Main Event: Justin Gaethje vs Paddy Pimblett

Location: T-Mobile Arena — Las Vegas, NV

Where to Watch: Paramount+

Other Main Card Matches:

  • Sean O’Malley vs Song Yadong
  • Waldo Cortes Acosta vs Derrick Lewis
  • Natalia Silva vs Rose Namajunas
  • Arnold Allen vs Jean Silva

“This is my last hurrah and I would love nothing more than to finish this off by beating Paddy and then having that belt,” Gaethje said.