Overview
- Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett meet Saturday in Las Vegas for the interim lightweight title, booked with Ilia Topuria on hiatus and marking the UFC’s first major card on Paramount+.
- Pre-fight exchanges turned heated as Gaethje vowed to “dog walk” Pimblett over perceived disrespect toward Dustin Poirier, while Pimblett called himself a trickier puzzle than Khabib Nurmagomedov.
- Dana White pushed back on Gaethje’s pay complaints by saying a higher‑pay contract was offered and not answered, after Gaethje noted his 14 bonuses still don’t total $1 million and said he isn’t earning more for UFC 324.
- Arman Tsarukyan, passed over for the interim slot, proposed an eight‑man lightweight Grand Prix and kept jabbing Pimblett online; White has said Tsarukyan’s weigh‑in headbutt of Dan Hooker factored into his omission.
- In bantamweight developments tied to UFC 324 week, Umar Nurmagomedov said he doesn’t expect an immediate title shot and would welcome Sean O’Malley getting Petr Yan next, a matchup the champion has hinted he’s open to.