The lightweight division has long been one of the most competitive weight classes in the UFC. Reigning undisputed champ Ilia Topuria has stepped back due to personal reasons, creating a power vacuum. This is where the main event of UFC 324 comes into play. Dana White booked two heavy hitters – Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett to battle it out for the interim lightweight title on Jan 24 (Jan 25 UK time) in Las Vegas.
7bet offers a wide range of betting markets for the bout, so it’s about time we look at the available odds and see how these gladiators match up. Don’t underestimate either athlete, and always gamble responsibly. Do your research!
UFC 324 – Gaethje vs. Pimblett: Fight Details
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- Date: Saturday, Jan 24, 2026 (Main Card starts early morning, ~3 AM Sunday, Jan 25 GMT)
- Time: The main event is expected to start around 05:00 GMT
- Location: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, USA
- At stake: UFC Interim Lightweight Championship
- Betting available at 7bet UK
Veteran, but still dangerous KO savant Justin Gaethje will try to trample Paddy Pimblett’s 9-fight winning streak. Gaethje is looking to reclaim a UFC title while his opponent is on track to become the next superstar in line to possibly challenge Ilia Topuria next.
UFC 324 – Gaethje vs. Pimblett: Betting
First things first – let’s look at the available odds for Gaethje vs Pimblett. In this section, I will provide an overview of the most popular betting markets that you can wager on and what implied probabilities 7bet Sportsbook offers.
Remember that UFC odds on our platform, by default, are listed in fractional format. You can change it to decimal or American odds on demand.
Disclaimer: Know this Before Placing UFC 324 Bets
Longer odds (e.g. 5/1) indicate an underdog or less likely outcome, while shorter odds (e.g. 2/11) indicate a favoured outcome with higher implied probability. However, probabilities and odds aren’t guarantees, so gamble responsibly.
Furthermore, odds are accurate as of writing this preview and could move before fight night.
Fight Winner
| Justin Gaethje | Paddy Pimblett |
| 7/4 | 2/5 |
Also called the ‘Outright Winner’ market, this bet focuses on one thing only – who will come out on top. Method of victory or fight length doesn’t matter; the bettor’s only concern is who gets the W.
As of now, Pimblett holds more favourable odds at 2/5, meaning his implied probability of winning is slightly over 70%. However, the American Gaethje is more experienced on the biggest stage, and his finishing power is second to none, meaning that this could be a close contest. Thus, bet after doing your research.
Will the Fight Go the Distance?
| Yes | No |
| 11/5 | 4/13 |
This is a bet that focuses on the fight length. Main event championship bouts last 5 rounds of 5 minutes. Fighters get a 1-minute rest break between the rounds so that stamina can play a huge part. The goal of this bet is to predict whether the fight will go to the judges’ scorecards (Yes), or if a KO/TKO, submission or stoppage will end things beforehand (No).
As of now, ‘No’ is the more likely outcome, according to our sportsbook. Since Pimblett is a favourite in the books and Gaethje is known for his KO power, 7bet numbers indicate a ~75% implied probability for the fight not going the distance.
Other Popular Markets
With UFC 324 fight night drawing closer, more and more markets may become available. Allow us to introduce them to you, so if and when you decide to bet, you are familiar with the offering and the risks involved. Here are the most popular markets for UFC 324 Gaethje vs. Pimblett and other similar events
- Round Total (Over/Under) – stake on whether the fight will go longer or will end earlier than the designated threshold. The winner doesn’t matter; it’s only the fight length that’s relevant. In general, when the combatants are closely matched, the fights take longer and vice versa.
- Winning Method – this bet wins if you pick the correct method of victory (KO, decision, submission). Double Chance is a closely linked market where you may have to pick the fighter and the method together. Such bets can have very long odds but may return larger profits.
- Live Bets – if you’re watching the event live, you can bet IN-PLAY. Analyse the dynamics of the action to make smarter bets to insure earlier wagers or to maximise profits.
- Winner & Exact Rounds – with this market, you should pick, for example, Pimblett to win in Round 2. And if Paddy would end the fight in Round 2, you’d rake in the profits. However, generally, this is considered a riskier bet.
Justin Gaethje – “The Highlight”
Record: 26-5 (20 wins by KO) – former interim champ
Justin Gaethje is a name that most UFC fans know very well. The American’s nickname “The Highlight” fits perfectly, as he’s a KO artist (20 to his belt already), delivering action-packed warfare every time he steps in the octagon.
The 37-year-old Gaethje reached his peak by claiming UFC’s Interim Lightweight Championship back in 2020 (by beating Tony Ferguson), but later lost to Khabib and Charles Oliveira. This damaged his legacy a bit. Regardless of these setbacks, Gaethje remains one of the top names in the Lightweight division and all of UFC.
Last year, Gaethje took a risky detour and accepted a non-title superfight against Max Holloway at UFC 300. He was KO’d in the last second after a wild exchange. That setback cost him the BMF belt and some momentum, but Gaethje regained some by beating Rafael Fiziev last spring with a Unanimous Decision victory.
While he has experience and explosiveness (20 of his 26 wins were by KO/TKO), Gaethje has shown he goes in with a kill-or-be-killed mentality. All of his losses also came by a stop, so it’s going to be a challenge for the American. If he can dictate the pace and stay off the mat, he’ll be in his element. However, Pimblett could prove to be a tough nut to crack…
Justin Gaethje – Last 5 Fights
| Opponent | Date | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Rafael Fiziev (rematch) | Mar 8, 2025 | Win (UD) |
| Max Holloway | Apr 13, 2024 | Loss (KO, R5) |
| Dustin Poirier | Jul 29, 2023 | Win (KO, R2) |
| Rafael Fiziev | Mar 18, 2023 | Win (SD) |
| Charles Oliveira | May 7, 2022 | Loss (Submission) |
Paddy Pimblett – “The Baddy”
Record: 23-3 (11 wins by submission); 9-fight win streak
Probably the hottest rising star in the world of MMA right now, the Scouser hasn’t lost an official bout since 2018. He has 7 straight wins in the UFC, so it seems that his journey to the Championship throne has been written in the stars.
Nicknamed “The Baddy”, the Englishman earned a cult following courtesy of his flamboyant personality and wild fighting style. That said, Pimblett is not all hype. He’s worked his way up and earned a title shot through merit. He won against unranked opponents and then defeated veteran Tony Ferguson in late 2023 to really put himself on the map.
Once in the octagon, “Baddy” is a well-rounded finisher, flourishing with slick BJJ, grabbing 11 out of 23 total wins by submission. While Pimblett couldn’t be labelled as UFC’s most technical striker, he remains aggressive for most of his fights. Paddy’s UFC run has also shown his resilience. Even when he’s been tagged or in a tough spot, the Scouser finds a way to rally and push the pace.
Albeit many predict him to be the favourite, Pimblett hasn’t faced anyone with Gaethje’s punching power. This means that it’s now or never for the biggest rising star in UFC’s Lightweight division.
Paddy Pimblett – Last 5 Fights
| Opponent | Date | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Chandler | Apr 12, 2025 | Win (TKO, R3) |
| “King” Bobby Green | Jul 27, 2024 | Win (Submission, R1) |
| Tony Ferguson | Dec 16, 2023 | Win (UD) |
| Jared Gordon | Dec 10, 2022 | Win (UD) |
| Jordan Leavitt | Jul 23, 2022 | Win (Submission, R2) |
Tale of the Tape
| Attribute | Justin Gaethje | Paddy Pimblett |
|---|---|---|
| Age (fight week) | 37 (born Nov 14, 1988) | 31 (born Jan 3, 1995) |
| Height | 5’11” (180 cm) | 5’10” (178 cm) |
| Reach | 70” (178 cm) | 73” (185 cm) |
| Professional Record | 26-5 | 23-3 |
| UFC Debut | Jul 7, 2017 – TKO win vs. Michael Johnson | Sep 4, 2021 – KO win vs. Luigi Vendramini |
| Titles/Status | Former UFC Interim LW Champion; Former BMF titleholder; #4 ranked LW | Rising lightweight contender; #5 ranked LW |
Key Factors to Watch
- Can Pimblett Handle Gaethje’s Firepower? It would be hard to disagree with the claim that Gaethje is the hardest hitter Pimblett has ever faced. Paddy has shown a tendency to eat some shots in his past fights, but no opponent has been as ferocious as the American. If Pimblett defends well, it may be a runaway W, but if Gaethje manages to shake the Liverpudlian with leg kicks early and slow his movement, it could become a whole different ballgame. Paddy’s fans need to hope that “the Baddy” can survive Gaethje’s initial onslaught.
- Will the Action Go to the Ground? If so, it’s clear who will have the advantage. However, Gaethje’s wrestling background has helped the American develop a notoriously strong takedown defence. With that being said, if Pimblett manages to drag his opponent into grappling exchanges or scrambles, his chances will look much nicer. Most insiders believe that whichever game plan prevails will determine the interim champ.
How to Watch UFC 324: Gaethje vs Pimblett in the UK?
All UK residents can watch the UFC 324 event live via TNT Sports (PPV). The main card from Las Vegas should start streaming in the early hours of Sunday UK time, Jan 25. In addition, fans can also stream the event on UFC Fight Pass.
FAQ
Why is an Interim Lightweight Title on the Line at UFC 324?
That’s because the reigning undisputed champ, Ilia Topuria, announced he’s taking some time off due to personal reasons. The Georgian champ didn’t want to hold up the division, so UFC booked Gaethje vs. Pimblett – a showstopping event that a lot of people are excited to see. The winner will likely face Topuria sometime later in 2026.
How Much Will the Fighters Make from this Fight?
While exact purses aren’t disclosed yet, we can make some educated estimates. Gaethje earned around $1.36 million from UFC 291, meaning this bout should bring in a similar amount. There’s a Performance of the Night bonus ($50,000) up for grabs, too. On the other hand, now that he’s headlining a PPV, Paddy could be looking at a few hundred thousand dollars guaranteed at minimum, if not more.
Betting is only available to participants above 18 years. Please bet responsibly. BeGambleAware.org