why are paddy and gaethje fighting for interim

They’re fighting for an interim belt because the actual lightweight champion, Ilia Topuria, is out and can’t defend his title right now due to personal and family issues, so the UFC created a temporary championship to keep the division moving.

Why Are Paddy And Gaethje Fighting For Interim?

The basic reason

• Ilia Topuria is the reigning UFC lightweight champion but has stepped away for a while because of personal and legal/family matters, so he’s unavailable to defend the belt.

• When a champion is sidelined for an uncertain period, the UFC often sets up an interim title fight so contenders can still fight for something meaningful and the division doesn’t stall.

• Paddy Pimblett vs Justin Gaethje at UFC 324 was that stop‑gap solution: winner holds the interim belt and is lined up to face Topuria once he returns.

“So, interim title fight gets thrown on the table… because [the champ] cannot defend his belt right now…” is basically how analysts framed it in pre‑fight breakdowns.

Why Paddy specifically?

From a sporting and business angle, the choice of Paddy was a mix of rankings momentum and star power:

• Paddy came in undefeated in the UFC with a long win streak and had become one of the promotion’s biggest names in the UK and on social media, which made him a marketable option for a surprise title shot.

• Matchmakers reportedly liked the “prospect vs veteran” angle: a rising star in Paddy against a proven, violent action fighter and ex‑interim champ in Gaethje.

• Some fans and pundits pointed out that Paddy wasn’t the top‑ranked choice and that the fight felt more like a “career mode” matchup than strict meritocracy, but that controversy actually helped hype the event.

Why Gaethje again for an interim?

Gaethje being in another interim fight has a clear logic but also created some fan debate:

• He’s a former interim lightweight champion (first time was in 2020) and has remained near the top of the division, so he’s a credible option when the real champ is absent.

• Stylistically, Gaethje guarantees chaos, which the UFC loves for pay‑per‑view main events.

• Some fans joked and complained online that Gaethje “has to win the interim a second time just to get a third title shot,” showing a bit of fatigue with him needing yet another temporary belt instead of a straight undisputed fight.

Forum and trending discussion vibes

A lot of the current chatter on forums and social feeds circles around a few themes:

• “Merit vs money”:
  • Some argue other contenders were more deserving based on rankings and recent wins.
  • Others say the UFC is an entertainment business first, and Paddy vs Gaethje was clearly the biggest sell.

• “Risk for Gaethje”:
  • Fans note Gaethje is older, has taken a ton of damage, and is risking his spot against a younger, surging name in Paddy just to get another crack at the real champ later.

• “Fast‑tracking Paddy”:
  • Supporters see it as a huge opportunity and proof he’s a star.
  • Critics call it a “push” that skipped the usual contender gauntlet and say it exposes him to a brutal stylistic matchup too soon.

What it sets up next

• The interim belt means Gaethje, as the winner, is now positioned as the next in line to fight Topuria for the undisputed lightweight title once Topuria returns from his break.

• Until that unification fight happens, Gaethje is expected to be treated as a “temporary champion” at 155, with the possibility of defending the interim strap if Topuria’s absence drags on.

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