- UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria announced that he won’t fight for the first quarter of 2026 due to personal issues.
- The UFC has announced an interim lightweight title fight between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324.
- Many, including #1 contender Arman Tsarukyan, are questioning the matchup.
The UFC has set an interim lightweight title bout for UFC 324, as champion Ilia Topuria is taking time off for personal reasons.
The fight is set between former interim champion Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett. However, many are curious about the matchup, specifically, the exclusion of #1 contender Arman Tsarukyan.
Topuria Not Back Until Second Quarter of 2026; Gaethje Returns for Title Run
UFC president Dana White announced the news during Thursday’s Kansas City Chiefs-Dallas Cowboys game.
Lightweight champion Ilia Topuria announced that he would be sitting out, at least, the first quarter of 2026 because of personal issues.
"I won't be fighting in the first quarter of next year. I'm going through a difficult moment in my personal life. I want to focus on my children and resolve this situation as soon as possible. I don't want to hold up the division. The UFC will make the matchups needed, and as soon as the matters are resolved I'll let the UFC know I'm ready to begin my return."
Therefore, UFC 324 kicks off the company’s deal with Paramount Plus, and will be headlined by an interim lightweight title fight between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett. Gaethje is a former interim champion, but lost the unification match against Khabib Nurmagomedov. Gaethje was considering retirement if he didn’t get a title fight, but this is the next best thing.
The card will be co-headlined by a women’s bantamweight title fight between champion Kayla Harrison and Amanda Nunes, a former two-time champion and, arguably, the best women’s MMA fighter ever. Nunes is coming out of retirement for this fight.
However, not everyone is happy with the lightweight booking.
Why Isn’t Arman Tsarukyan Fighting for the Interim Belt?
Many have issues with the Gaethje-Pimblett booking because it means no title fight, not even an interim title match, for Arman Tsarukyan, the #1 contender. Tsarukyan has won five straight fights and just submitted Dan Hooker in the first round of their Fight Night headliner on November 22. The Georgian lightweight posted his own question on X:
It is a question worth asking. Gaethje is a veteran of the UFC, and has always stepped up when asked. He also has a very exciting style, although he has dialed it back recently. However, he is fourth in the UFC rankings, and Pimblett is fifth. Topuria has already beaten the #2 and #3 contenders, Charles Oliveira and Max Holloway, knocking both out.
It’s easy to see why they were overlooked by the UFC. But the Tsarukyan exclusion is puzzling, especially for Pimblett, who has won nine in a row. However, his best win is against Michael Chandler, who has lost five of his last six (albeit, against a murderer’s row of opponents).
It could be because Tsarukyan has pulled out of a couple of fights, while Pimblett’s ability to market a fight is being rewarded. Only White knows the answers, and he’ll likely reveal his reasons sooner rather than later. UFC betting sites have set Pimblett as the favorite for this match, but many might not give him his credit as the true #1 contender, Tsarukyan, isn’t included!
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