Ilia Topuria has fully backed the Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett matchup for the interim lightweight title. Last month, Topuria announced he would take a hiatus from active competition for personal reasons, prompting the promotion to book an interim title clash between Gaethje and Pimblett as the main event of UFC 324 in January 2026.
However, the matchup sparked widespread backlash, with many in the MMA community criticizing the UFC’s matchmaking and arguing that the promotion overlooked the No. 1 lightweight contender, Arman Tsarukyan, in favor of Gaethje and Pimblett.