Justin Gaethje isn’t running from fear. If anything, he’s leaning into it.
As Gaethje prepares to face Paddy Pimblett for the interim lightweight title in the UFC 324 main event on Jan. 24, his name continues to circle around a future showdown with undisputed champion Ilia Topuria. Topuria remains on personal hiatus and is targeting a return sometime after the first quarter of 2026, but that hasn’t stopped Gaethje from already visualizing the challenge ahead.
For Gaethje, the appeal of fighting Topuria goes beyond hype or gold. It’s the mental test that excites him most.
“Ilia, I trust in my A to B, it’s what I have to trust in,” Gaethje told ESPN Deportes. “I trust in my intuition. I trust in my ability to judge distance and time and just be there. This sport is so crazy. Anything can happen.”
Justin Gaethje has built a career on chaos, but he knows Topuria demands precision. The undefeated champion’s striking arsenal leaves little room for error, and Gaethje doesn’t sugarcoat that reality.
“It comes down to not making mistakes against a guy like that,” Gaethje said. “Not eating his right hand. Not walking into his right hand. His left hook, his 2-3 is one of the best combinations I’ve seen in this sport, so it’s a beautiful challenge and I love how scared I’ll be.”
Before any talk of Topuria becomes reality, Gaethje must deal with Pimblett, who enters UFC 324 undefeated in the UFC. The interim title bout has drawn criticism, with some pointing to Gaethje’s 4-3 record in his last seven fights and Pimblett’s No. 5 ranking. Gaethje understands the noise, but he sees the fight for what it is business.
“You’re never going to make everybody happy,” Gaethje said. “Whenever we fight for an interim championship, it’s everything a championship is on paper. My contract says I get paid a certain amount to challenge for a championship, and now I get paid that much.”
Justin Gaethje has long been one of the UFC’s most reliable action fighters, and he isn’t interested in stepping away from marquee moments late in his career.
“I’m the most consistent, most exciting guy that’s ever stepped in there,” he said. “Last fight was the first time I’d ever made less than my previous fight. I don’t want that to happen. I’ve got to be in these big fights.”
Even with the interim belt on the line, Gaethje isn’t banking on a guaranteed title shot. Topuria’s timeline remains uncertain, and UFC plans can change quickly. Gaethje knows all he can control is the fight in front of him and possibly ruining a storyline fans are already invested in.
“I have to win,” Gaethje said. “I know fans probably want Paddy and Ilia like they wanted Tony and Khabib, and I’m going to f— it up. That’s my job.”
At 37, Justin Gaethje stands closer to the end than the beginning, still chasing undisputed UFC gold. Whether or not a fight with Topuria materializes, one thing is clear: Gaethje isn’t afraid of what scares him. He welcomes it.
