Justin Gaethje could be hunting bonuses again at UFC 324, but maybe not in the way fans expect. “The Highlight” is set to claim a second interim lightweight title against Paddy Pimblett and a win puts him right in line for undisputed champion Ilia Topuria, and Gaethje is ready for whatever Pimblett brings.
Gaethje isn’t running from the grappling storyline either. After sharing the Octagon with elite names like Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira, he believes he’s more prepared than ever.
“People remember the biggest fights that I’ve had against the most elite grapplers… I have had issues,” Gaethje said on Submission Radio. “But the way Charles Oliveira got me to the ground was by rocking me. Khabib was a whole other conundrum. Since then, I’ve really trained a lot of jiu-jitsu and grappling, and I’ve actually been enjoying it more than I ever have.”
Gaethje made it clear he isn’t chasing a grappling match, but he’s confident in his ability to keep the fight on the feet, unless Pimblett forces chaos.
“I’m not looking to grapple, but I have no issue with the grappling department… Maybe I’ll sub him. That’s got to be million-to-one odds, though.”
The idea of a Gaethje submission might sound wild, but he isn’t ruling anything out. Only one of his career wins came by submission, long before he became the knockout machine fans know today. Still, he expects Pimblett to test him early on the feet before switching to the ground game. Gaethje rates Pimblett’s striking higher than many critics do.
“I rate his striking a 7 or 8. He throws a lot of power, and if you get hit clean, it’s a problem. He’s always moving forward, and that gets him into clinches and takedowns off his strikes.”
For Gaethje, the plan is simple: control the angles, control the feet, and create violence.
“I’ve always said I create car crashes. I want to be the object that gets there first and with the most force.”
The fight itself hasn’t escaped controversy. With Arman Tsarukyan left out of the title mix and Pimblett sitting at 7–0 in the UFC—despite criticism over the level of his competition—the interim belt has sparked heated debates. Even Gaethje has felt the backlash.
“I felt just as much hate for me as I did for him. If you’re an Arman fan, you feel slighted and I understand that. But this game is crazy, and timing is everything.”
Gaethje enters UFC 324 with a 26–5 record and fresh momentum after beating Rafael Fiziev. Now, he’s chasing gold once again and maybe a submission shocker that no one sees coming.
