UFC 324: Justin Gaethje vs Paddy Pimblett Preview & Prediction
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The interim lightweight title and a shot at current champion, Ilia Topuria, is at stake in the first main event of the Paramount era, with Paddy Pimblett taking on Justin Gaethje at 155 pounds.
Justin Gaethje vs Paddy Pimblett facts
What time are Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett expected to walk out?
Where is UFC 324? T-Mobile Arena, Nevada, USA
Where can I get tickets for UFC 324? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC 324
What TV channel is UFC 324 on? UK – TNT Sports Box Office / USA – Not televised
Where can I stream UFC 324? UK – TNT Sports subscribers who have paid for the fight can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and discovery+ / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC 324: Gaethje vs Pimblett main card
Justin Gaethje vs Paddy Pimblett (Lightweight)
Sean O'Malley vs Song Yadong (Bantamweight)
Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs Derrick Lewis (Heavyweight)
Natalia Silva vs Rose Namajunas (Women’s Flyweight)
Arnold Allen vs Jean Silva (Featherweight)
UFC 324: Gaethje vs Pimblett prelims
Umar Nurmagomedov vs Deiveson Figueiredo (Bantamweight)
Ateba Gautier vs Andrey Pulyaev (Middleweight)
Nikita Krylov vs Modestas Bukauskas (Light Heavyweight)
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)
Justin Gaethje: Now or never for the former "BMF" champion
Widely regarded as one of the most entertaining fighters in UFC history, there’s a reason why Justin Gaethje (26-5) is nicknamed “The Highlight.” The former interim lightweight champion has earned at least one Performance bonus in all but one of his fourteen UFC fights to date, scoring victories over the likes of Dustin Poirier, Michael Chandler, and Rafael Fiziev. Known for his heavy hands and ferocious leg kicks, Gaethje has toned down his aggressive style over the years after going out on his shield on multiple occasions, eschewing his do-or-die approach for a more technical game that still sees his hand raised more often than not. Having recently turned 37, “The Highlight” is poised to put it all on the line one last time in the hope of earning a shot against current 155 kingpin Ilia Topuria, with a loss all but certain to signal the end of a legendary career.
Paddy Pimblett: Does "The Baddy" truly belong among the lightweight elite?
Serving as one of the promotion’s most marketable faces, former Cage Warriors standout, Paddy Pimblett (23-3), finds himself potentially one win away from a super fight against arch rival, Ilia Topuria. With eleven of his wins coming by way of tap out, “The Baddy” is best known as a precocious submission artist but his striking has vastly improved since joining the promotion back in 2021. Undefeated in seven UFC bouts to date, Pimblett has beaten the likes of Michael Chandler, Tony Ferguson, and Bobby Green throughout his promotional tenure. However, with his best wins coming over fighters who were well past their prime, justifiable questions remain as to how the charismatic Scouser will handle the upper echelon of the division.
Justin Gaethje vs Paddy Pimblett prediction
If this match up hits the floor for a prolonged period of time, Gaethje is toast. Rafael Fiziev is far from a submission specialist, and he still nearly caught “The Highlight” with an inverted triangle in borderline accidental fashion. Pimblett has lethal jiu-jitsu and will almost certainly throttle the American into submission if he can keep him grounded.
However, whether this fight is going to the floor in short order is another matter entirely. Despite the danger that Pimblett poses on the mat, he’s far from an unstoppable wrestler; a state of affairs highlighted by a takedown accuracy rate of just 28%. By contrast, nobody outside of Khabib Nurmagomedov has found consistent success with takedowns against Gaethje.
Pimblett has improved with every UFC appearance, but the fact remains that his best win has come over what remained of Michael Chandler. Gaethje may be nearing the end of his career, but he still has yet to drop a fight in the UFC to somebody who isn’t categorically elite. He doesn’t wear damage like he used to, but the American is still an extremely polished striker, blending a vicious technical boxing game with his trademark chopping low kicks. Pimblett has come on in leaps and bounds on the feet, but he has yet to face a striker of Gaethje’s caliber.
This prediction could age like milk, but the pick is for Gaethje to keep the action standing and duly piece “The Baddy” up on the feet, either becoming the first man to finish the Scouser or consistently out damaging him en route to a decision victory.
Prediction: Justin Gaethje to win
