The Paramount+ Era of the UFC kicked off with one hell of a “Highlight.”
Justin Gaethje lived up to his nickname Saturday night and defied expectations, showing that the old guard at lightweight still has some fight left in it with a Fight of the Year-caliber victory at UFC 324 over heavily hyped, sizable betting favorite Paddy Pimblett to become interim champion of the division for the second time.
The 37-year-old, who first claimed that crown in 2020 but didn’t appreciate it the way he does this time, went back to buzzsaw mode after adopting in recent years a more calculated approach to violence. He pressured Paddy throughout the early rounds and battered “The Baddy” badly in the fourth en route to scorecards of 48-47, 49-46, 49-46. A Fight of the Night bonus — doubled to $100,000 this year after well over a decade of stagnation — also slips into his account for his troubles, giving him 15 post-fight bonuses in 15 UFC bouts to tie the all-time mark.
Perhaps even more valuable to Gaethje: Returning to interim champ status lines up the Arizonan for a unification matchup against Ilia Topuria — perhaps even at the hotly anticipated White House event midway through this year that’s a bucket list item for Saturday’s big winner.
“The White House is in June. I represent this country,” Gaethje told reporters hours after the fight. “… There’s no way they’re keeping me off that card.”
Topuria vs. Gaethje is exactly the fight the UFC should want to headline its capital fight card. The international star and unbeaten two-division champion against the flag-waving, beloved American scrapper. Oh, and both men can crack as few can in combat sports. It sells itself — and perhaps plenty of Paramount+ subscriptions as well.
The new streaming home already was rewarded for its pursuit of the combat sports giant. Violence virtuoso Gaethje’s bludgeoning of Pimblett in Las Vegas was must-see TV. While the Scouser found a home for plenty of his own offense, he bore the brunt of the evidence of the fight on his own face. A leaky nose streaked blood for the second half of the 25 minutes of action. An apparent fracture of the left orbital likely was addressed at a local hospital, where was sent afterward according to UFC CEO Dana White. (I know what those look like all too well, having broken both of mine before.)
As for Gaethje?
“Apparently, he’s 100 percent,” White assured of the interim champ’s health in his post-fight remarks, blessed news for Gaethje (27-5, 21 finishes) and anyone else who wants him to compete at the White House as staunchly as he does.
It’s Topuria’s availability that throws a monkeywrench into the mix.
The Georgian-Spaniard laid claim to the vacant lightweight crown in June with a thunderous KO of Charles Oliveira, leaping right to the top of a second weight class after giving up the championship at featherweight — citing a weight cut too problematic to undertake again.
But if the UFC had hoped to make Topuria a part of this Paramount+ debut, familial discord scuttled those plans. Thus, the interim title was created and put up for grabs less than seven months after Topuria’s coronation.
Topuria recently put forth a more optimistic timeline for his return than he’s previously volunteered. A social media reply indicated a return to the octagon between April and June against “the winner between Paddy and Justin.” If President Donald Trump is to be believed, the event is intended to go off on his birthday: June 14.
White offered no clarity on which fights would be booked for the spectacle on the South Lawn, noting only that he and UFC brass would begin that process Monday.
As much of a star as Pimblett (23-4, 17 finishes) is, a win by the Brit virtually would have taken the lightweight title off the table for Washington altogether. The Scouser, while speaking with The Post on Monday, had expressed zero interest in competing at the White House, not owing to fact that he’s English but because of what’s anticipated to be a limited-capacity crowd that would make packing in his friends, family and supporters a tall task.
A bullet was dodged in that respect, so Topuria vs. Gaethje is very much in play to commemorate this nation’s 250th anniversary in exactly the way the UFC surely dreams.
Forget Conor McGregor’s possible return after five years away. Move on from Jon Jones changing White’s mind and getting back in action. Embrace the best possible headliner.
“There’s no doubt it’ll be one of the best fights they could put on,” Gaethje said.
UFC White House: Topuria vs. Gaethje. Get your popcorn ready.
