who won the paddy pimblett fight

Justin Gaethje defeated Paddy Pimblett in their recent UFC 324 main event, a grueling five-round war for the interim lightweight title at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on January 24-25, 2026.

Fight Outcome

Gaethje won by unanimous decision with judges' scores of 48-47, 49-46, and 49-46, snapping Pimblett's nine-fight UFC winning streak and updating his record to 23-4-0. This marked Gaethje's second interim lightweight belt, positioning him for a future clash with champion Ilia Topuria upon his return. Pimblett, bloodied but resilient from Liverpool, vowed a strong comeback, earning mutual respect from Gaethje who called him "very dangerous" with "great timing."

Round-by-Round Highlights

• Round 1 : Pimblett landed early, but Gaethje countered with a left hook, ground strikes, and dominance.

• Round 2 : Gaethje dropped Pimblett with a right hand, unleashing flurries until the bell.

• Round 3 : Pimblett rallied with combinations amid a low blow pause; he showed heart despite cuts.

• Round 4 : Gaethje controlled with heavy rights after early pressure from Pimblett.

• Round 5 : Both traded bombs—Gaethje's right hand countered Pimblett's takedown push and late flurry.

Stats favored Gaethje: 170/326 total strikes vs. Pimblett's 156/311 significant strikes, plus 5:55 control time and 3/3 takedowns.

Trending Reactions

Fans and forums lit up post-fight, praising the "savage" thriller as a 2026 highlight. Gaethje noted, "Scousers do not get knocked out," highlighting Pimblett's toughness. Earlier Reddit chatter on Pimblett's past bouts showed divided views—some saw hype over substance, others defended his potential—but this loss fueled debates on his title path.

Fighter| Record Post-Fight| Key Strengths Shown| Notable Quote 1
---|---|---|---
Justin Gaethje| 27-5-0| Power striking, control (5:55)| "Young kid dangerous... steal his confidence."
Paddy Pimblett| 23-4-0| Timing, resilience| "You haven't seen the last of me." 3

TL;DR : Gaethje batters Pimblett via UD in epic UFC 324 title fight; both shine in mutual respect amid fan buzz.

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