Add “Perfect Justin Gaethje” to the ongoing list of mythical UFC fighters, alongside Sea-level Cain Velasquez and TRT-tor Belfort.
The longtime lightweight contender will get one last chance to capture the 155-pound crown in 2026, starting with his interim title fight against Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324 in Las Vegas. A victory over “The Baddy” all but guarantees a spot against the returning Ilia Topuria
at the UFC White House event in June.“I’m planning on fighting perfect and when I fight perfect,
I think you have to get lucky to beat me,” Gaethje said on YouTube. “But the challenge is still ahead. I have to be perfect that night to knock Paddy out and earn my title shot on the White House card. That’s the plan. I think if I can do that, that’s the best way that I can ever imagine finishing off my career.”
Gaethje, who turned 37 just a few weeks back, is 0-2 in lightweight title fights, having been submitted by Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 254 before tapping to Charles Oliveira at UFC 274. In addition, he was toe-tagged by former featherweight champion Max Holloway in their “BMF” title fight at UFC 300 back in early 2024.
“This is my last chance,“ Gaethje (26-5) added. ”This opportunity to finish my career off the way that I want to is everything that I could ask for. I’ll fight Paddy for the interim championship. If I win that, I’ll get to fight Ilia (Topuria). Ilia right now is the baddest man in my division, and some consider, across the board. What an opportunity to finish this career off exactly how I’ve fought the whole time.”
Gaethje remains a betting underdog for UFC 324.
