Justin Gaethje became the first two-time interim champion Saturday when he defeated Paddy Pimblett in the UFC 324 headliner.
With Ilia Topuria sidelined due to personal issues, Gaethje (27-5 MMA, 10-5 UFC) seized his opportunity with a unanimous decision victory over Pimblett (23-4 MMA, 7-1 UFC) to claim the interim lightweight strap at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
With the result, Gaethje is now in position for a 155-pound unification bout with Topuria in 2026.
Check below for the top X (formerly Twitter) reactions to Gaethje beating Pimblett at UFC 324.
The main event of #UFC324 is here!
What’s your final prediction: Justin Gaethje or Paddy Pimblett? 🤔
Full coverage: https://t.co/nYJkTsBtAupic.twitter.com/WEBh0dUuzh
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) January 25, 2026
OHHHHH @PaddyTheBaddy
📺 @paramountpluspic.twitter.com/7dzNJ3RW7k
— Paramount UFC (@paramountufc) January 25, 2026
That’s a hard walk out to follow. #UFC324
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) January 25, 2026
CHILLS@paramountpluspic.twitter.com/iAb1l89lHs
— Paramount UFC (@paramountufc) January 25, 2026
Gaethje is absolutely sending it with these strikes #UFC324
— Nolan King (@mma_kings) January 25, 2026
PIMBLETT IN A WORLD OF TROUBLE EARLY
📺 @paramountpluspic.twitter.com/ooBFDwjofz
— Paramount UFC (@paramountufc) January 25, 2026
Justin coming in wild
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) January 25, 2026
Paddy is keeping his chin extremely high in the air! #UFC324
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) January 25, 2026
10-9 Gaethje in R1
Great round
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) January 25, 2026
10-9 Gaethje. Justin is about to shock the world #UFC324 🏆
— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) January 25, 2026
Fair play to Paddy, man. He’s not taking a backward step. Biting down and fucking fighting. #UFC324
— Seán Sheehan (@SeanSheehanBA) January 25, 2026
Fun round 1. Gaethje 10-9
— Funky 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 (@Benaskren) January 25, 2026
Can Paddy keep a pace like this
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) January 25, 2026
Paddy has been timing his uppercut well. Gaethje needs to be careful of it #UFC324
— Nolan King (@mma_kings) January 25, 2026
Justin dipping his head so much the knee or uppercut gonna hurt him
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) January 25, 2026
Justin Gaethje cut Paddy Pimblett open to end Round 2. This may just be his night! #UFC324
— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohn) January 25, 2026
2-0 Gaethje. Experience and damage. #UFC324
— Brian Campbell (@BCampbell) January 25, 2026
Welcome to the top 5
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) January 25, 2026
OMG, the way Joe Rogan is commentating UFC 324 main event is truly disgusting and embarrassing. Hyping up every step and breath Paddy Pimblett takes and not noticing anything Justin does (complete silence). Is he really that desperate to please the boss? Disgusting.
— PAM (@ParamPam1990) January 25, 2026
PADDY’S FACE AFTER ROUND TWO 🤯 #UFC324pic.twitter.com/Dt2htDRrlp
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) January 25, 2026
Much better approach to R3 from Pimblett. You do not was a close quarters war with Gaethje
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) January 25, 2026
Ouch.
[ #UFC324 | @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/jGDTrE12EX
— UFC (@ufc) January 25, 2026
29-28 Gaethje. Paddy has effectively worked his way back into this fight #UFC324
— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) January 25, 2026
Maybe this sorcerer really can’t be knocked out
— Sodiq Yusuff (@Super_Sodiq) January 25, 2026
Topuria must be smiling right now.
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) January 25, 2026
Justin Gaethje vs Paddy The Baddy… How are you scoring this so far? #UFC324pic.twitter.com/GB22mfwBiF
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) January 25, 2026
ANOTHER KNOCKDOWN FOR @Justin_Gaethje TO START ROUND 4!
[ #UFC324 | LIVE on @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/gfbpZzGzuG
— UFC (@ufc) January 25, 2026
Paddy is about to lose like 5 yeas of service life After this war
— Paulo Costa (@BorrachinhaMMA) January 25, 2026
I find it hard to believe Paddy had a full training camp and the game plan was to only strike with Justin. That’s F’n WILD.
— Brendan Schaub (@BrendanSchaub) January 25, 2026
Can’t question Paddy Pimblett’s place among lightweight elite after this one #UFC324
— José Youngs (@JoseYoungs) January 25, 2026
THIS FIGHT WILL NOT QUIT
GET TO @paramountplus RIGHT THIS SECOND pic.twitter.com/YvtFOGJYQh
— Paramount UFC (@paramountufc) January 25, 2026
Great fight so far. Feels like Gaethje has let Paddy off the hook a couple times and Paddy’s recovery is crazy. You give him a few seconds and he’s right back in it.
— Ben Fowlkes (@benfowlkesMMA) January 25, 2026
Great round for Justin 39-37. Paddy gaining respect for staying in the fire, he needs a finish!!
— Funky 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 (@Benaskren) January 25, 2026
Just a good ole fashion brawl!! @ufc
— Cody Garbrandt (@Cody_Nolove) January 25, 2026
Justin needs to sharpen up a lot before topuria
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) January 25, 2026
Nothing like a Gaethje fight.
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) January 25, 2026
What a fight between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett at #UFC324 🩸 pic.twitter.com/tEUhnjcHw0
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) January 25, 2026
FOREVER LINKED ∞@Justin_Gaethje & @PaddyTheBaddy just had an epic main event to kick off the year!
[ #UFC324 | LIVE on @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/9yXiXSCixt
— UFC (@ufc) January 25, 2026
#UFC324 results: Justin Gaethje def. Paddy Pimblett via unanimous decision (48-47, 49-46, 49-46) – to win interim lightweight title
Full coverage: https://t.co/nYJkTsBtAupic.twitter.com/5sId5HzSO2
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) January 25, 2026
welcome to the big leagues Patrick!
1 up for the Legends #UFC324— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) January 25, 2026
THE HIGHLIGHT
📺 @paramountpluspic.twitter.com/DAI6KdBp9F
— Paramount UFC (@paramountufc) January 25, 2026
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC 324: Fighters react to Justin Gaethje beating Paddy Pimblett
