Paddy Pimblett will fight Justin Gaethje for the interim lightweight title at UFC 324 in Las Vegas on 24 January.
The bout between Liverpool’s Pimblett and American Gaethje has been set up after champion Ilia Topuria revealed he will not fight in the first quarter of 2026 because of a “difficult moment” in his personal life.
Pimblett, 30, is fifth in the UFC’s lightweight rankings with 37-year-old Gaethje one place above him.
Topuria, who won the title after knocking out Charles Oliveira in July, added that the UFC will “make the match-ups needed” in his absence.
“I won’t be fighting in the first quarter of next year. I’m going through a difficult moment in my personal life,” the Georgian-Spaniard wrote on X., external
“I want to focus on my children and resolve this situation as soon as possible.
“I don’t want to hold up the division. As soon as the matters are resolved I’ll let the UFC know I’m ready to begin my return.”
Pimblett last fought in April where he stopped American Michael Chandler in the third round for his seventh-straight win in the UFC.