Don\u2019t expect a submission finish at UFC 324.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s because No. 5-ranked<\/a> Lightweight Paddy Pimblett fully intends to knock out former interim champion Justin Gaethje in the UFC 324 main event<\/a> next month (Sat., Jan. 24, 2026) inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone\u2019s gonna be shocked because I think I\u2019m gonna knock him out,\u201d Pimblett told Red Corner MMA recently. \u201cPeople won\u2019t expect that. People just think I\u2019m going to grapple and take him down, but I\u2019m not. I\u2019m going to come out and put it on him. I don\u2019t see him getting past the third, just like Chandler.\u201d<\/p>\n To his credit, Pimblett\u2019s striking has steadily improved. But trading punches with Gaethje is like juggling lit dynamite \u2014 the same man who became the first fighter to ever knock down Max Holloway. Then again, Scousers don\u2019t get knocked out, right?<\/p>\n \u201cI knew I would be fighting for the belt. To fight a legend like Justin Gaethje for the interim belt \u2014 I\u2019ve paid my dues to get this, lad,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ll win this interim belt, I\u2019ll beat up Ilia and take the proper belt, defend that, and then I\u2019ll go up and win the Welterweight belt.\u201d<\/p>\n Another champ-champ?? Time will tell.<\/p>\n For now, Pimblett (23-3) remains undefeated inside the Octagon at 7-0, entering UFC 324 on the heels of the biggest win of his career \u2014 a third-round stoppage of Chandler \u2014 which itself followed a first-round submission over King Green (watch highlights<\/a>).<\/p>\n