Paddy Pimblett was hoping to end his UFC 324 main event the same way Max Holloway ended his Justin Gaethje fight at UFC 300. Instead, Pimblett closed the show more like Tony Ferguson at UFC 249.
By getting his face turned into an olive loaf at the hands of “The Highlight.”
Pimblett displayed a ton of heart and proved that he can absorb a frightening amount of damage (along with a few eye pokes). Nevertheless, the 23-4 “Baddy” suffered the first loss of his UFC career and came up short in his quest
to capture the interim crown.
Consider him 0-50.
That means the 31 year-old Scouser will have to watch from the sidelines as Gaethje attempts to unify the titles against Ilia Topuria later this year.
Don’t expect any sympathy from bitter rival and No. 1-ranked lightweight contender, Arman Tsarukyan.
“Justin definitely has Staph infection,“ Tsarukyan wrote on Threads. ”This clown couldn’t beat Gaethje on antibiotics 🤣🤣🤣. That’s what happens when you’re gifted opportunities and pushed up the rankings artificially, a completely undeserved title shot for Paddy. Congratulations to Justin. He showed real heart, and unlike others, he’ll step up and take the fight with me. Respect.“
Tsarukyan is referring the visible neck wound Gaethje was spotted with prior to the event (the one we’re not allowed to ask about).
The interim title shot would have likely gone to Tsarukyan had the “spoiled little rich kid” not head-butted Dan Hooker at the UFC Qatar weigh ins. Not that “Ahalkalakets” was in the promotion’s good graces to begin with but his “Hangman” attack was likely the straw that broke the interim belt.
Tsarukyan (23-3) has been battling Pimblett in the media ever since the “fake rankings” helped “The Baddy” land the UFC 324 headliner. Pimblett agreed to fight Tsarukyan “anytime” and mocked the 29 year-old “Posh Boy” for throwing away his title shot at UFC 311 back in early 2025.
“Anytime” may turn out to be late 2026 if “Ahalkalakets” doesn’t escape the UFC “doghouse.”
