Overview
- Paddy Pimblett said Thursday on the How U Livin podcast that he wants a rematch with Justin Gaethje and would 'shoot in in the first 10 seconds' to take Gaethje down and try to submit him.
- Gaethje beat Pimblett for the interim lightweight title at UFC 324 in January 2026 and then unified the division by defeating Ilia Topuria at the White House card in June 2026, raising the stakes of any rematch.
- Pimblett has signaled a tactical shift toward grappling after admitting his ego led him to trade strikes in the first fight and after a 52-second first-round submission win over Benoit Saint Denis at UFC 329 in July.
- Multiple outlets report that Gaethje may be considering retirement and the UFC has not announced a next lightweight title defense, leaving contenders such as Topuria, Arman Tsarukyan and Alexander Volkanovski as likely alternatives.
- If Gaethje fights again the UFC will weigh marquee rematches against practical contenders, and if he retires the title picture could open quickly and change matchmaking, purse talks and fighters' immediate plans.