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who will justin gaethje fight next

Justin Gaethje is scheduled to fight Paddy Pimblett next, headlining UFC 324 in Las Vegas for the interim UFC lightweight title on January 24–25, 2026 (depending on your time zone).

Quick Scoop: Who Will Justin Gaethje Fight Next?

Justin Gaethje’s “next” fight is already booked and, in fact, happening right now in the current UFC calendar window: he’s matched up against UK fan-favorite Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324.

Key details:

  • Opponent: Paddy Pimblett (Liverpool lightweight star).
  • Event: UFC 324: Gaethje vs Pimblett.
  • Stakes: Interim UFC lightweight championship (Topuria is out, so this interim belt is on the line).
  • Location: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada.
  • Date/time: January 24, 2026 in Las Vegas (with broadcasts rolling into January 25 in some regions).

So if you’re asking “who will Justin Gaethje fight next,” the answer in the current timeline is clear: he’s facing Paddy Pimblett in a high-stakes interim lightweight title clash at UFC 324.

Why This Matchup Is a Big Deal

This isn’t just another Gaethje brawl; it’s a narrative-heavy, trend-driving fight that has fans buzzing.

A few angles fans and forums are focusing on:

  1. Veteran vs rising star
    • Gaethje: Former interim champ, known for wild wars and a huge number of knockouts and bonuses.
 * Pimblett: Undefeated in the UFC before this fight, big personality, massive UK fanbase.
  1. Interim belt stakes
    • Champion Ilia Topuria stepped away due to serious off-cage issues, leading to an interim title being created.
 * This means the winner is likely next for a unification bout once the full title picture clears up.
  1. Action expectations
    • Gaethje has stacked Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night bonuses through his last many fights.
 * Pimblett’s style and willingness to engage make this a likely firefight rather than a cautious chess match.

Forum / Fan Discussion Flavor

Online discussions and previews are treating this as:

“Classic Gaethje chaos vs. the hype train from Liverpool — either a star is born or a legend gets one more run.”

Common fan talking points:

  • Can Pimblett handle Gaethje’s leg kicks and power over five grueling rounds?
  • Is this Gaethje’s last big title push, or the start of Pimblett’s true elite run?
  • How the interim title will reshape the lightweight division once the full champion returns.

What Happens After UFC 324?

Right now, there is no confirmed opponent beyond Pimblett, so anything after UFC 324 is speculation:

  • If Gaethje wins: he likely positions himself for a unification bout with the returning full champion once that situation stabilizes.
  • If he loses: he may still remain a top contender and action headliner, but that “last run at gold” storyline cools off.

Because the division’s title picture is tied up with Topuria’s status and personal issues, fans expect some reshuffling later in 2026.

Mini TL;DR

  • Justin Gaethje’s next fight: Paddy Pimblett.
  • Event: UFC 324 in Las Vegas, interim lightweight title on the line.
  • It’s a high-drama, high-action matchup driving a lot of current MMA discussion online.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.