All articles tagged with #interim title
Tom Aspinall says he’s close to full clearance from his eye issues, has returned to training (not sparring yet), and expects to fight the winner of Pereira vs. Gane for his comeback. With no fixed return date, the UFC has created an interim heavyweight title to be decided by Pereira and Gane in the co‑main event of UFC White House, and Aspinall is ready to face the winner once cleared as the division adds new challengers.
In a mailbag Q&A, the author analyzes how Carlos Ulberg's ACL tear after winning the 205‑pound title could force a belt vacate or interim scenario, and sketches a speculative path where Chimaev vacates middleweight to chase 205, Pereira vs. Gane reshuffles the belt picture, Costa makes a push at 205, and Ulberg returns next year to vie for the title, with side notes on Jones's future and other heavyweight movements.
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 to win the interim lightweight title at UFC 324 in Las Vegas on January 24, 2026.
UFC 324’s weigh-ins turned chaotic: Cameron Smotherman fainted after making weight and his bout with Ricky Turcios was canceled; Alex Perez and Deiveson Figueiredo missed weight by 2.5 pounds each and were fined; Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett made weight for the interim lightweight title, with other fights set and fines applied as needed.
Paddy Pimblett enters UFC 324 as the favourite for the interim lightweight title, claiming he’ll finish Justin Gaethje early and that he’s a harder puzzle to solve than Khabib Nurmagomedov, while Gaethje accuses him of overconfidence and vows to figure him out at the Las Vegas media event.