UFC 324 Preview

Paddy Pimblett will face his toughest test to date in the UFC when he goes head-to-head with Justin Gaethje in Las Vegas on January 24.

Pimblett is the bookmakers’ favourite to win the interim lightweight title, but he would be well advised not to underestimate his opponent.

For fans who engage in sports betting in Florida and across other regions, odds of 15/8 for Gaethje to emerge victorious are a tempting proposition. 

Gaethje scored a convincing decision victory over Rafael Fiziev in his most recent outing, while Pimblett claimed a knockout victory over Michael Chandler in April.

Whoever triumphs at UFC 324 will earn a crack at Ilia Topuria for undisputed title. Topuria is currently taking a break from the sport due to personal issues.

While Gaethje is renowned as a knockout specialist, his Liverpool-born opponent is confident that he will justify his status as the favourite to win the fight. 

“I think I finish him wherever the fight goes to be honest,” Pimblett said. “Obviously, I know he can bang, but every fight we get a breakdown of our opponent and it actually shocks me how much he gets hit and I know he takes one to give one, but you cannot really do that at this level.

“That’s why he has lost to people like Eddie Alvarez, Dustin Poirier, Charles Oliveira because he can’t just take one to give one, and I am not just going to stand there and let him hit me back.

“I’ll be using my range, keeping him on the outside, and I have got a feeling I am going to knock him out to be honest. I do not know what it is, I have just got a sneaky suspicion I am going to knock him out.”

While Pimblett is bullish about his chances of recording another victory, Gaethje is undoubtedly a dangerous opponent given what he has at stake in the fight.

The 37-year-old will reportedly hang up his gloves if he loses, which places a greater degree of jeopardy on the upcoming contest in Vegas.

‘The Highlight’ is currently the number four ranked UFC lightweight, but a defeat against Pimblett would scupper his hopes of earning a title shot. 

Head coach Trevor Wittman has confirmed that Gaethje will retire from fighting if he comes up short to ensure he protects his legacy in mixed martial arts (MMA). 

“When we have these conversations, I’m not afraid to speak it out loud,” Wittman told ESPN MMA. “This is our last run – if we don’t win this fight, we’re not going on.

“We’re not going to go out there and be a gatekeeper and look at money fights. He’s a goal setter, and his mentality – that’s the key to Justin, he’s very unique.

“He would fight over and over and over, but he knows he’s got to be there for his family. He’s got to be smart and take care of his health.”

Main card

Justin Gaethje vs Paddy Pimblett – Lightweight
Kayla Harrison vs Amanda Nunes – Women’s Bantamweight
Sean O’Malley vs Song Yadong – Bantamweight
Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs Derrick Lewis – Heavyweight
Arnold Allen vs Jean Silva – Featherweight

Preliminary card

Natalia Silva vs Rose Namajunas – Women’s Flyweight
Umar Nurmagomedov vs Deiveson Figueiredo – Bantamweight
Ateba Gautier vs Andrey Pulyaev – Middleweight
Nikita Krylov vs Modestas Bukauskas – Light Heavyweight

Early preliminary card

Alex Perez vs Charles Johnson – Flyweight
Michael Johnson vs Alexander Hernandez- Lightweight
Josh Hokit vs Denzel Freeman – Heavyweight
Ricky Turcios vs Cameron Smotherman – Bantamweight
Adam Fugitt vs Ty Miller – Welterweight