Paddy Pimblett's next fight is all but confirmed if he beats Justin Gaethje at UFC 324.
Pimblett has won seven UFC fights in a row since joining the MMA leaders from Cage Warriors.
He has beaten the likes of King Green and Tony Ferguson, producing the best performance of his budding career against Michael Chandler in his last appearance.
'The Baddy' stopped Chandler in the third round of their lightweight clash at UFC 314 last year.
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He's earned a shot at UFC gold, with his main-event bout taking place at UFC 324 on January 24.
The interim UFC lightweight title will be on the line when Pimblett and Gaethje meet inside the famed Octagon in Las Vegas.
The promotion created an interim championship after Ilia Topuria announced his decision to step away from the sport due to personal reasons.
But Topuria expects to return to action in 'April-June' and has revealed he will face the winner of Gaethje vs. Pimblett.
Asked if he will face Arman Tsarukyan next, Topuria replied: "The winner between Paddy and Justin."
Topuria, 28, hasn't fought since claiming the undisputed UFC lightweight championship against Charles Oliveira in June 2025.
But he is set to return to the UFC in the first half of 2026 against the winner of Gaethje vs. Pimblett in a blockbuster unification bout.
Paddy Pimblett reveals real reason why Dana White gave him UFC title shot
Fans and critics alike questioned the decision to pit Pimblett and Gaethje against each other for the interim UFC lightweight title given Tsarukyan was waiting in the wings following his dominant victory over Dan Hooker.
But the Liverpool fighter reckons Dana White awarded him a UFC title shot because of his exciting fighting style, not to mention wanting to kick off the new Paramount era with a big fight.
"I think he knows that I'm never in a boring fight." he told SPORTbible, in association with CoinPoker.com.
"I'm just not, whether it's a grapple match or a striking match, I'm never in a boring fight. And neither is Justin Gaethje. Gaethje is your favourite fighter’s favourite fighter. And I love watching Justin Gaethje fights.
"I've been watching him for years. He's a legend. So to be able to share the cage with him is an honour. But that all gets put to one side when I actually get in the cage with him and I have to put a beat down on him.
"But Dana knows in regards to the sport that me and Justin Gaethje as the first main event on the Paramount era is smart business."
Topics: Paddy Pimblett, UFC
Nasir Jabbar