It’s been six weeks since the last UFC event but the wait finally over. UFC 324, the first UFC event of 2026, takes place on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The fight card is headlined by an interim lightweight title fight between former interim champion Justin Gaethje and No. 5 ranked Paddy Pimblett.
Former middleweight champion Michael Bisping believes it’s a tough matchup for Pimblett, but sees a path for “The Baddy” to win.
“It’s a tricky one for Paddy. It is because I don’t think he has the wrestling to take him down. And I don’t think he has the striking to stand there and go toe-to-toe with Justin. If Paddy allows himself to get boxed into a corner, if Justin cuts off the cage and backs Paddy up against the fence and forces them to trade, Justin’s got bigger power. Justin’s got better boxing. That’s what he built his entire career on,” Bisping said on his YouTube channel.
“But I think if Paddy can use his height, his range, his speed, uses his kicks, and that’s another thing as well. Justin Gaethje has got some of the best leg kicks in the game, right? Inside kicks, outside kicks, calf kicks, head kicks, you name it. The guy throws them all with nasty intentions. So it is a very, very tough fight (for Pimblett).”
In the two biggest fights of his career, for the undisputed lightweight crown, Gaethje lost via submission. Bisping believes Gaethje may have slowed a little at 37 and Pimblett has ways to victory.
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“It’s a dangerous matchup for Paddy Pimblett, but I also think it’s one he can win. I think over five rounds, Justin Gaethje might make a mistake. He does have more experience, but he has maybe slowed down a bit. The fact that he says this is going to be his last fight if he loses, that’s never good to hear,” continued the former champion.
While admitting it’s a tough matchup for Pimblett, Bisping picked the fellow Brit to emerge with the interim belt on Saturday.
“I do think, though, over five rounds given how dynamic Paddy Pimblett is, given how disciplined he is, given that Scousers don’t get knocked out. He’s fast on the feet, and he just finds some way to do it,” said Bisping.
“He finds openings. The slightest little bit and he’s going to take it … I think over five rounds, Paddy gets this done and the world’s going to lose their mind,” Bisping added.
“I’ve got Paddy Pimblett winning by way of submission and becoming the interim champion of the world.”
