Justin Gaethje has launched a scathing attack on Paddy Pimblett, branding the Liverpudlian fighter's comments as disrespectful towards several UFC icons in the build-up to their highly anticipated interim lightweight title bout. The two stars are set to collide on Saturday night at UFC 324 in Las Vegas, with the prestigious championship belt on the line.
Press Conference Tensions Escalate
While both fighters maintained a cordial demeanour during their initial press conference in Sin City last month, tensions flared dramatically during the final media event on Thursday evening. Gaethje was left visibly seething after Pimblett made controversial remarks about UFC legend Dustin Poirier's performance in his farewell bout against Max Holloway back in July.
The British fighter had described Poirier as looking dog s*** during that encounter, questioning the veteran's decision to announce his retirement ahead of the fight. "He's come out and said, 'Yeah, I'm this retirement fight,' and he looked like a piece of dog s***," Pimblett told TNT Sports. "Got his head punched in for five rounds and looked like s***. If you're gonna retire, you need to just do it. You don't want to tell everyone."
Gaethje's Fiery Response
When asked about Pimblett's comments during Thursday's press conference, Gaethje did not hold back in his response. "I love everything he's been saying," Gaethje stated with clear sarcasm. "He sounds overconfident — he's out here disrespecting legends like Dustin Poirier. I'm going to dog walk this English f*** on Saturday. Watch."
Pimblett doubled down on his remarks during the same event, declaring: "Dustin's never got a nice word to say about me, so I was honest and said he looked like s***. Stop f***ing crying." Gaethje immediately countered with: "You would also look like s*** against Holloway."
Career Crossroads for Both Fighters
This championship clash represents a pivotal moment for both combatants. Many observers believe Gaethje is approaching the twilight stages of his distinguished MMA career, though the American has consistently downplayed such speculation. His long-time coach, Trevor Wittman, believes his star pupil still has one final opportunity to challenge for the undisputed championship, beginning with Saturday's encounter.
Pimblett, meanwhile, continues to face scepticism about his skill set despite establishing himself as a household name in the sport. The 31-year-old Liverpool native earned his shot at the interim title with a spectacular knockout victory over Michael Chandler last April, yet many continue to doubt his championship credentials.
Fighters' Recent Form and Experience
Gaethje brings considerable experience to this contest, having been involved in numerous memorable battles throughout his UFC tenure. The destructive knockout artist previously held the interim lightweight championship but has fallen short in two attempts to claim the undisputed title. He enters this bout following a decisive decision victory over Rafael Fiziev back in March.
Pimblett represents the newer generation of UFC stars, with this contest marking his most significant career challenge to date. Despite his growing popularity and impressive record, questions persist about whether he can compete at the championship level against established veterans like Gaethje.
Event Details and Broadcasting Information
The much-anticipated showdown between Paddy Pimblett and Justin Gaethje will take place on Saturday, January 24, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The event schedule is as follows:
- Early prelims commence at approximately 10pm GMT (5pm ET / 2pm PT / 4pm CT)
- Regular prelims begin at 12am GMT on Sunday (7pm ET / 4pm PT / 6pm CT)
- Main card starts at 2am GMT on Sunday (9pm ET / 6pm PT / 8pm CT)
Pimblett is expected to make his walk to the cage first at around 4am GMT on Sunday (11pm ET / 8pm PT / 10pm CT), with Gaethje following immediately after. All timings remain subject to change depending on the duration of preliminary bouts.
For viewers in the United Kingdom, the entire event will be broadcast live on TNT Sports Box Office at a cost of £19.99. The pay-per-view is available through multiple platforms including:
- discovery+
- EE TV
- Prime Video
- Sky
- Virgin Media TV
No TNT Sports subscription is required to purchase the event. UFC 324 marks a new broadcasting era for the promotion following their recent deal with Paramount, meaning American viewers can watch all the action exclusively on Paramount+.
