“El Matador” has spoken — and he didn’t hold back.
U.K. star Paddy Pimblett suffered the first loss of his Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) career in the main event of UFC 324 last night (Sat., Jan. 24, 2026), as he was battered over five grueling rounds by now two-time interim Lightweight champion Justin Gaethje inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada (watch highlights).
The loss snapped Pimblett’s nine-fight win streak and halted what had been the biggest momentum push of his career, as a victory would have almost certainly earned him a massive title unification bout — and a career-defining payday.
Pimblett’s long-time archenemy and reigning UFC Lightweight champion Ilia Topuria wasted no time reacting to the result on social media, delivering a ruthless message aimed squarely at “The Baddy,” but also took a shot at Gaethje as well.
“Little sausage, the only thing you had to do was beat a 38-year-old guy,” Topuria wrote. “You just lost the biggest paycheck of your life. You were going to get rich if you won. Justin, all I can say is congratulations… and I’d like to tell you to get ready, but you’re screwed no matter what.”
Instead, Pimblett leaves Las Vegas licking his wounds, while Topuria now appears laser-focused on unifying the Lightweight title with Gaethje, potentially at the historic UFC White House event — assuming his ongoing divorce proceedings are resolved in time.
For now, Topuria gets the last laugh.
