Justin Gaethje is on a mission to disrupt the UFC's carefully laid plans, and he's not holding back! He's ready to crash the party and spoil the potential showdown between Ilia Topuria and Paddy Pimblett.
Next month, fight fans are in for a treat as Gaethje faces off against Pimblett for the interim lightweight title at UFC 324. Many expected the current lightweight champion, Ilia Topuria, to defend his title against either Gaethje or Pimblett, or even top contender Arman Tsarukyan. However, Topuria is taking some personal time, which has paved the way for Gaethje and Pimblett to battle for the interim belt. But don't think for a second that Gaethje sees this as anything less than a legitimate title opportunity.
"It’s no disappointment at all," Gaethje stated at the "It’s On" press conference. "Interim champion is the same as a champion, on paper, contract-wise. That’s what we fight for. This is my job, and it’s the biggest opportunity for me."
He continued, "I didn’t know a long time before they announced the fight that it was going to be Paddy. I think they were waiting to see if Ilia was going to fight. … Turns out, he’s going to sit down for a little bit. So Paramount, this is — they need a Michael Johnson vs. Justin Gaethje coming-out party. Paramount, UFC combining; this is a fight that everyone wants. We’re going to gain massive fans for UFC. Entertainment business, and I’m the most entertaining fighter in the world. And this guy is pretty close behind me. It’s going to be a hell of a fight."
This isn't Gaethje's first rodeo in an interim title fight. He previously clinched the same belt by defeating Tony Ferguson at UFC 249. Ironically, Ferguson was originally slated to challenge then-lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov in a highly anticipated bout. But the COVID pandemic changed the course of events, forcing Nurmagomedov out. Gaethje stepped in and handed Ferguson his first loss in six years, and he sees a parallel between that situation and this upcoming fight with Pimblett.
"Ultimately, like I said, this gets us paid as a champion, and it definitely gives me the chance to fight Ilia," Gaethje explained. "I want to fight Ilia. I want to play spoiler, just like I did with Khabib [Nurmagomedov] and Tony [Ferguson]. I’m going to f*ck this up for everybody. There’s going to be no Paddy and Ilia. I’m going to do the same thing I did for that fight, and then I’m going to fight Ilia on the White House card, if he’s ready to fight again. We’ll see when he’s ready again."
But here's where it gets controversial... Gaethje's determination to derail the Topuria-Pimblett narrative is clear, but does this strategy resonate with fans?
UFC 324 is scheduled for January 24 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The event also features a women’s bantamweight title fight between Kayla Harrison and Amanda Nunes.
What are your thoughts? Do you think Gaethje has what it takes to disrupt the plans, or will Pimblett prevail? Share your opinions in the comments below!
