{"id":437297,"date":"2026-01-25T21:54:09","date_gmt":"2026-01-25T21:54:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/437297\/"},"modified":"2026-01-25T21:54:09","modified_gmt":"2026-01-25T21:54:09","slug":"justin-gaethje-vs-paddy-pimblett","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/437297\/","title":{"rendered":"Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett"},"content":{"rendered":"

UFC 324 ushered in a new era for MMA fans, as it was the promotion’s first event on Paramount+. It was by no means perfect, but there is now significant lightweight clarity after Justin Gaethje punched his ticket<\/a> to an undisputed title fight with Ilia Topuria , whenever Topuria decides to return.<\/p>\n

Not all was positive, though. Whether it was a delayed main card start time, advertisements, or otherwise, there was a lot to unpack either way.<\/p>\n

Here are the three biggest winners and losers from the night overall.<\/p>\n

1. Biggest Winner (Justin Gaethje) & Biggest Loser (Paddy Pimblett)<\/p>\n

This one is obvious given that they not only fought each other, but also changed the entire immediate future of the lightweight division. Gaethje is now one win away from being an undisputed champion, while Pimblett will more than likely have to wait for a title opportunity with at least one or two wins to remain in contention.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t wait,” Gaethje told reporters of Topuria. <\/a>\u201cIt\u2019s what I got here for. That\u2019s what we do. And that\u2019s what I believe the next fight is, unless he\u2019s not back \u2026 There\u2019s no doubt it\u2019ll be the best fight that they could put on. It\u2019ll be for an undisputed belt, and I think they wanna have six or seven [belts at the White House]. They wanna have as many as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

With Gaethje’s confidence around the fight, he took it a step further about Topuria’s status as a champion.<\/p>\n

\"Justin<\/p>\n

Jan 24, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Justin Gaethje (red gloves) reacts after the fight against Paddy Pimblett (blue gloves) during UFC 324 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images | Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

\u201cSo if he\u2019s not back by then [the White House fight], they will strip him, and I will be undisputed. And then I\u2019ll fight for the belt on there and defend it.\u201d<\/p>\n

READ MORE: 3 Biggest Overreactions From UFC 324: Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett<\/a><\/p>\n

2. Winner: Sean O’Malley & Loser: Rose Namajunas<\/p>\n

Former UFC Bantamweight Champion Sean O’Malley finally returned to the win column with a decision win over Song Yadong in the co-main event. Meanwhile, Rose Namajunas came up short against Natalia Silva, which likely killed all hope of another title shot before Namajunas decides to retire.<\/p>\n

But, for O’Malley, the win against Yadong was massive. It snapped a two-fight losing skid and gives O’Malley a clear path to a title shot and a chance to run it back vs. Petr Yan in Yan’s first title defense.<\/p>\n

O’Malley said post-fight he “hates” losing,<\/a> making the win that much sweeter with his family (including his daughter) in the front row of the T-Mobile Arena to watch the fight.<\/p>\n

\"Sean<\/p>\n

Oct 21, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Mixed martial artist Sean O’Malley attends the game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Los Angeles Chargers at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images | Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

3. Winner: UFC\/Paramount+ & Loser: UFC Fans With Advertisements<\/p>\n

UFC 324 cannot be discussed without talking about the Paramount+ aspect of the event. Not only was it the promotion’s first taste of the new era, but UFC CEO Dana White said executives were satisfied with the product they got, with numbers to be revealed sometime mid-week. So, despite concerns, there appears to be optimism.<\/p>\n

The flip-side, though, is the fans. Many dumped ESPN+ in favor of Paramount+ when they switched over and many were left scratching their heads. Missed entrances, blue screens, pacing, and others were only a few of the cons throughout the night.<\/p>\n

Overall, it’s one event in the books with 42 still to come. We’ll see how the UFC improves going forward.<\/p>\n

More MMA Knockout News<\/p>\n

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\u2022\u00a0Dana White Reveals How UFC Will Evolve Alongside MMA With Paramount+ Deal<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0Justin Gaethje Reveals UFC Retirement Plan Before UFC 324 Fight With Paddy Pimblett<\/a><\/p>\n

Stick with\u00a0MMAKnockout<\/a>\u00a0for more FREE coverage of the UFC and MMA.<\/p>\n

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