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who won ufc 324

Justin Gaethje won UFC 324, defeating Paddy Pimblett by unanimous decision to claim the interim UFC lightweight title.

Quick Scoop

UFC 324 took place in Las Vegas and was headlined by Justin Gaethje vs Paddy Pimblett for the interim lightweight championship. After five brutal rounds, the judges scored it 49–46, 49–46 and 48–47 in favor of Gaethje, giving him the belt and snapping Pimblett’s long win streak.

What exactly happened?

  • Main event: Justin Gaethje defeated Paddy Pimblett by unanimous decision to win the interim lightweight title.
  • Scorecards: 49–46, 49–46, 48–47 for Gaethje after a back-and-forth five-round war.
  • Story of the fight: Gaethje dropped Pimblett multiple times, landed heavier damage, but Pimblett stayed in it and rallied late, making it a high-paced slugfest.

An example sequence: early on, Pimblett landed first, but Gaethje swung momentum with a big left hook, followed by punishing ground-and-pound that set the tone for the rest of the fight.

Why this win matters now

  • This is Gaethje’s second interim lightweight title, putting him next in line for a unification bout with reigning champion Ilia Topuria later in 2026.
  • Pimblett, despite the loss, boosted his stock by going the distance and showing toughness against a proven elite contender.
  • UFC 324 was the first big card of 2026, so Gaethje’s win immediately shaped early-year title-talk and fan debates about where both fighters sit in the division.

Other key UFC 324 notes (for context)

  • Co-main: Sean O’Malley beat Song Yadong by unanimous decision, reasserting himself as a top bantamweight contender.
  • Heavyweight spotlight: Waldo Cortes-Acosta scored a big knockout over Derrick Lewis, putting his name on the map at heavyweight.

Simple HTML table recap

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Fight Result Method / Notes
Justin Gaethje vs Paddy Pimblett (Main Event) Gaethje def. Pimblett Unanimous decision, 49–46, 49–46, 48–47; wins interim lightweight title.
Sean O’Malley vs Song Yadong (Co-main) O’Malley def. Yadong Unanimous decision; key step back toward title contention.
Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs Derrick Lewis Cortes-Acosta def. Lewis KO in the second round; major heavyweight breakthrough.
**TL;DR:** Justin Gaethje won UFC 324’s main event, beating Paddy Pimblett by unanimous decision to become interim UFC lightweight champion.

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