Justin Gaethje Triumphs in UFC Interim Championship

The Paramount+ era of the UFC kicked off with quite the spectacle on Saturday night. Justin Gaethje, living up to his explosive reputation, proved he still has plenty of fight left. He bested the highly touted Paddy Pimblett, claiming the interim championship in the lightweight division for the second time.

This 37-year-old fighter first won the title back in 2020, but this time around didn’t get quite the warm reception. Still, he demonstrated a strategic approach after years of all-out brawling. Gaethje delivered consistent pressure on Pimblett early on and landed a significant blow in the fourth round, ultimately winning with scores of 48-47, 49-46, and 49-46. Adding to his accolades, he earned a Fight of the Night bonus, which was unexpectedly doubled to $100,000, bringing his total of post-fight bonuses to 15—tying the record in UFC history.

Perhaps even more exciting for Gaethje, he’s now in line for a unification bout against Ilia Topuria. There’s talk of staging this match at a much-anticipated event at the White House later this year—a huge milestone for the winner.

“It’s June in the White House. I represent this country,” Gaethje stated to the media just hours after his victory. “…There’s no way they can keep me away from that card.”

The matchup with Topuria is precisely what the UFC aims to headline for the Capital City fight card. With Topuria as an undefeated champion and Gaethje as a popular American fighter, the bout has the makings of a draw that could also boost Paramount+ subscriptions.

The streaming service is already reaping rewards; the scene of Gaethje triumphing over Pimblett in Las Vegas was one for the books. While Pimblett managed to find some offense, he paid the price, ending the fight with a bloodied face and possibly a facial fracture—evidence of the brutality of the bout. UFC CEO Dana White mentioned that Pimblett was likely receiving treatment for his injuries post-fight, which—having experienced similar injuries myself—I can imagine was quite painful.

As for Gaethje, he was reported to be in excellent health. White reassured everyone of that in his post-fight comments, which was certainly welcome news for Gaethje and his fans eager to see him compete in the White House.

However, Topuria’s situation is a bit complicated. After vacating the featherweight title, he dramatically knocked out Charles Oliveira to claim the lightweight title last June. But then there were weight issues that seemed to create a barrier for his return.

Despite UFC’s initial plans to feature Topuria for this Paramount+ debut, a personal feud complicated matters. A provisional title fight was created less than seven months after Topuria’s crowning.

Recently, Topuria hinted at a more optimistic comeback timeline, potentially aiming for a match against the Gaethje-Pimblett winner between April and June, specifically around Trump’s birthday on June 14.

White hasn’t confirmed any specific matchups for the South Lawn event yet, stating discussions will commence promptly. As for Pimblett, even though he’s become a bit of a star, a victory over Gaethje would likely eliminate the lightweight title from Washington altogether. He even expressed a lack of interest in participating at the White House, primarily due to the venue’s limited seating and the struggle of accommodating fans and family.

In some ways, this may have been a lucky escape, as the hypothetical Gaethje vs. Topuria fight is exactly the kind of spectacle the UFC aims for, especially in light of the nation’s 250th anniversary.

Forget about Conor McGregor making a comeback after five years or Jon Jones potentially re-entering the ring. This matchup represents the best possible headliner.

“It’s definitely going to be one of the best fights they can have,” Gaethje emphasized.

Get ready for UFC White House: Topuria vs. Gaethje. Sounds like it’s time to grab some popcorn.