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Paddy Pimblett will face Justin Gaethje for the interim lightweight title at UFC 324 in Las Vegas on January 24.
The showdown between Liverpool’s Pimblett and American Gaethje has been set after champion Elia Topuria revealed he will not fight in the first quarter of 2026 due to a “difficult moment” in his personal life.
Pimblett, 30, is ranked fifth in the UFC lightweight rankings, with Gaethje, 37, one place above him.
Topuria, who won the title after defeating Charles Oliveira last July, added that the UFC “will hold the necessary matches” in his absence.
“I will not fight in the first quarter of next year. I am going through a difficult moment in my personal life,” the Spanish-Georgian wrote on the X website., external
“I want to focus on my children and resolve this situation as quickly as possible.
“I don’t want to disrupt the division. Once things are resolved, I will let the UFC know that I am ready to start my comeback.”
Pimblett’s last match was last April, where he stopped American Michael Chandler in the third round to achieve his seventh consecutive victory in the UFC tournament.
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