UFC 324: Paddy Pimblett vs Justin Gaethje Headlines a New Era as Arman Tsarukyan Fights for His Place

UFC 324 has become the most polarizing card of the month before a punch has even been thrown. On Saturday, January 24, 2026, the promotion lands in Las Vegas with Justin Gaethje vs Paddy Pimblett set for an interim lightweight title in the main event—an announcement that instantly split the fanbase and lit up the division’s politics. With the undisputed champion Ilia Topuria not competing right now due to personal reasons, the interim belt is designed to keep the championship lane moving. Instead, it has reopened an old argument: should the UFC reward rankings, or reward momentum and market value?

That tension is exactly why Arman Tsarukyan is trending alongside “Paddy vs Gaethje.” He’s the name many view as the most “sporting merit” option—yet he’s watching two stars leapfrog into a title fight.

UFC 324: Why Gaethje vs Pimblett Is Happening Now

The UFC’s lightweight division is in a strange place: stacked with contenders, but temporarily missing the one fight that settles everything—champion vs clear No. 1. The interim title solves that on paper. In practice, it turns matchmaking into a referendum on what the belt represents.

The argument for Gaethje vs Pimblett is straightforward:

• Gaethje is a proven elite lightweight with a résumé built on top-tier opponents and big-fight experience.

• Pimblett is a high-heat attraction who has transformed from prospect to headline draw, and his win streak has kept him in constant spotlight.

The argument against it is just as loud: if the belt is meant to reflect the best, the interim fight should feature the contender most likely to threaten the champion—not the pairing that sells the loudest.

Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett: The Risky Leap From Star to Champion

For Pimblett, UFC 324 is the hinge point between being a fan-favorite and being a legitimate titleholder. The matchup is hazardous because Gaethje isn’t a “name” test—he’s a style test that punishes mistakes.

Pimblett’s keys are familiar but not simple:

• Survive the early storm. Gaethje’s pressure and leg-kick game can take over fights quickly.

• Make it messy. Pimblett thrives when exchanges become chaotic and opponents lose rhythm.

• Grappling urgency. If Pimblett can force clinch-and-ground sequences, he can turn minutes into control and frustration.

Pimblett also arrives with extra scrutiny on discipline—his well-known post-fight weight swings have become part of the storyline, and he’s talked publicly about tightening nutrition and approach for the biggest assignment of his career.

Justin Gaethje: Legacy, Violence, and One More Belt Run

Gaethje’s brand is intensity, but his recent career arc has also shown he can fight smarter when he chooses. Against Pimblett, the temptation will be to hunt the highlight—but the smarter route may be measured brutality: systematic leg damage, controlled pressure, and forcing Pimblett to fight tired.

What makes Gaethje dangerous here is that he can win in multiple ways:

• Attrition: calf kicks and pressure break opponents over rounds

• Timing: counters when Pimblett rushes

• Experience: five-round pacing and composure in big moments

If Gaethje wins, he likely positions himself for a unification bout with Topuria the moment the champion is ready.

Arman Tsarukyan: The Man Left Out, and Why He Won’t Stop Making Noise

Tsarukyan’s frustration is the sub-plot driving half the debate. Many fans see him as the most complete “nightmare matchup” at lightweight—strong wrestling, high pace, and improving finishing instincts. He has pushed publicly for clarity in the title picture, even floating the idea of a tournament-style solution to force the division into order.

The political problem is simple: Tsarukyan is widely respected, but he doesn’t generate the same casual-audience pull as Pimblett, and Gaethje is already an established attraction. That leaves Tsarukyan in the familiar contender trap—too good to ignore, not always chosen first when the promotion needs a blockbuster.

The more this interim title fight is framed as “entertainment first,” the more Tsarukyan’s case hardens into a rallying point for fans who want rankings to matter.

What Else Matters on UFC 324 and What Comes Next

UFC 324 has also been reshuffled in the upper portion of the card due to injuries, with a new co-main event locked in. That adds to the sense that the promotion is balancing two objectives at once: stabilizing the schedule and keeping marquee names in big slots.

Here’s the most important “what next,” depending on the main event result:

• If Pimblett wins: he becomes the interim champion and one of the sport’s biggest needles, but the pressure to face Topuria (or the top contender) becomes immediate and unavoidable.

• If Gaethje wins: the UFC gets a familiar, credible interim champion and a clean path to a high-stakes unification fight.

• Either way: Tsarukyan’s next booking becomes the real litmus test—does the UFC position him as the true next man up, or does the division drift into another cycle of star-driven matchmaking?

UFC 324 isn’t just Gaethje vs Pimblett. It’s a live trial of what a championship opportunity means in 2026—and whether Arman Tsarukyan can force the sport back toward merit when the spotlight keeps drifting elsewhere.