BRIT Paddy Pimblett will fight for UFC gold at the start of 2026.
‘The Baddy’ has surged up the lightweight ranks in double-quick time since debuting in MMA‘s top promotion in September 2021.
Pimblett has taken out all comers, with his last outing being a one-sided destruction of fan favourite Michael Chandler in April.
And the Liverpudlian’s Miami mauling of Chandler has earned him a crack at interim 155lbs gold.
Pimblett, 30, will throw down with fan favourite Justin Gaethje on a stacked UFC 324 card in Las Vegas on January 24.
The Sin City showdown was officially announced by UFC supremo Dana White late on Thursday night.
The booking of Pimblett vs Gaethje has stunned many fight fans.
Pimblett was seemingly all set to lock horns with long-time rival and undisputed lightweight champion Ilia Topuria.
The pair’s nearly five-year-long feud once again came to a head last June when Topuria shoved the Brit moments after getting his hands on the 155lbs strap.
The UFC were eager to pit the pair against one another for the first PLE event of the Paramount+ era.
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But the fight hasn’t come to fruition as Topuria is taking time away from competition to resolve a family matter.
‘El Matador’ wrote on X: “I won’t be fighting in the first quarter of next year.
“I’m going through a difficult moment in my personal life.
“I want to focus on my children and resolve this situation as soon as possible.
“I don’t want to hold up the division.
“The UFC will make the matchups needed, and as soon as the matters are resolved, I’ll let the UFC know I’m ready to begin my return.”
