All articles tagged with #gaethje
The UFC revealed new Venum fight kits for a White House event on June 14, streaming on Paramount+, headlined by lightweight unification between champion Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje, with Pereira vs Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title as part of a seven-fight lineup celebrating the US's 250th birthday. A pre-event press conference also saw Josh Hokit removed after an incident with Topuria.
UFC is staging Freedom 250 at the White House on June 14 to mark 250 years of U.S. independence. About 4,300 spectators will watch from the South Lawn and 85,000 free tickets will be available for the public from Ellipse Park, with a small number of 'high roller' packages reportedly costing around $1.5 million. The card features a unification lightweight bout between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje, with Pereira vs Gane for the interim heavyweight title. President Trump met the fighters in the Oval Office as commemorative belts were unveiled. The event would be the first pro sports event on White House grounds, and UFC says it will spend about $60 million, describing the tickets as a 'partner investment' deck to attract influential attendees.
UFC CEO Dana White announced the White House fight card for June 14 in Washington, D.C., led by a lightweight unification bout between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje; the card also features Alex Pereira vs Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title, Sean O'Malley vs Aiemann Zahabi, Mauricio Ruffy vs Michael Chandler, Bo Nickal vs Kyle Daukaus, and Diego Lopes vs Steve Garcia on the South Lawn to celebrate the U.S. 250th anniversary. Conor McGregor, Jon Jones, and Amanda Nunes are absent, and one planned bout reportedly fell through before the announcement; Tom Aspinall remains the heavyweight champion after a prior eye-injury no-contest.
Justin Gaethje defeated Paddy Pimblett by unanimous decision at UFC 324, becoming a two-time UFC interim lightweight champion, and said he was surprised by how well he performed. He pressed the action, shut down Pimblett's range and takedowns by staying in punching range and walking through Pimblett's kicks, instead of grappling. Pimblett threw five takedowns (three in the final round) but Gaethje largely controlled the pace, explaining that the first minute told him he could take shots and commit to aggression; some fighters criticized the bout afterward.
Justin Gaethje, fresh off a win that made him a two-time interim lightweight champion, wants Ilia Topuria to headline the UFC White House card in June for a unification bout, and he expects the Topuria showdown to crown a true lightweight champion; he also notes a potential McGregor return could reshuffle the card but remains focused on the Topuria matchup.
Matt Brown criticized Gaethje vs. Pimblett at UFC 324 as a 'sloppy, undisciplined' slugfest that showcased little high-level skill, saying two of the world's best fought like a regional show fight and questioning whether either could threaten Ilia Topuria; he emphasized he still appreciates slugfests but now seeks display of true martial arts mastery in title fights.
UFC 324 on Paramount+ delivered a memorable night led by Justin Gaethje’s unanimous win over Paddy Pimblett, with Cortes-Acosta’s KO of Derrick Lewis and O’Malley’s comeback adding to the excitement, signaling a strong start for UFC’s Paramount+ rights deal despite some ads and uneven prelims; viewership numbers haven’t been disclosed, but the event has generated momentum for UFC 325 and the ongoing partnership.
Justin Gaethje defeated Paddy Pimblett to become the interim lightweight champion, signaling UFC's Paramount-era launch; the rest of UFC 324 drew mixed reactions with O'Malley’s win over Song Yadong not clearly justifying a title shot, while Krylov delivered a standout performance and Umar Nurmagomedov's win drew boos. The panel's pick for the night's biggest loser varied, naming Umar Nurmagomedov, Alex Perez, Pimblett, and Rose Namajunas for different reasons.
Justin Gaethje outworked Paddy Pimblett over five rounds to win the interim lightweight title at UFC 324, derailing UFC's plan to turn Pimblett into a breakout star as the Paramount era begins. The result raises questions about Pimblett's ceiling and elevates Gaethje as the reigning interim champ, while elites like Topuria and Tsarukyan loom as future challenges; the event also marked a notable pay-raise for fighters, signaling a broader shift in the promotion.
Justin Gaethje defeated Paddy Pimblett by unanimous decision after a five-round war at UFC 324, with Pimblett hospitalized post-fight. Gaethje refused a hospital visit, saying he’s “100%” after tougher wars. Dana White confirmed Pimblett was sent to the hospital and Gaethje declined. Gaethje now targets Ilia Topuria for the UFC White House event in June.
Justin Gaethje dominated Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324 to seize interim lightweight gold, notch a Fight of the Night bonus, and position himself for a lightweight unification showdown with Ilia Topuria — potentially headlining a Paramount+ UFC White House event later this year as scheduling and Topuria’s availability shape the card.
Justin Gaethje defeated Paddy Pimblett by unanimous decision to win the interim lightweight title at UFC 324 in Las Vegas on January 24, 2026.
Justin Gaethje outpointed Paddy Pimblett by unanimous decision to capture the interim lightweight title at UFC 324 in Las Vegas, while Sean O’Malley edged Song Yadong to keep his title-shot dream alive; Waldo Cortes-Acosta stopped Derrick Lewis; Umar Nurmagomedov controlled Deiveson Figueiredo; Natalia Silva defeated Rose Namajunas; Krylov and other winners closed the prelims with finishes. The night also introduced UFC’s Paramount+ era and doubled post-fight bonuses to $100,000 for two fighters plus a $25,000 finish bonus, with a couple of bouts canceled after weigh-ins due to medical issues.
UFC 324’s Las Vegas weigh-ins set the stage for Jan. 24, with Justin Gaethje (155 lb) vs. Paddy Pimblett (154 lb) headlining the interim lightweight title fight and Sean O’Malley (135.5) vs. Song Yadong (136) in the co-main; several fighters hit their marks while Deiveson Figueiredo and Alex Perez missed weight and forfeited 25% of their purses, and Cameron Smotherman’s medical issue forced a bout cancellation. The event airs on Paramount+ with the main card at 9 pm ET/6 pm PT and prelims earlier at 7 pm ET/4 pm PT.
Dana White says Justin Gaethje was offered more money before UFC 324 as the UFC transitions to Paramount+, with promises of higher fighter salaries and potential increases to post‑fight bonuses under the seven‑year, $7.7 billion deal. Gaethje disputed pay gains, while White asserted negotiations occurred and that the deal should benefit fighters, including Gaethje who headlines the event against Paddy Pimblett for the interim lightweight title.