In Las Vegas, on Saturday night, Justin Gaethje will face Paddy Pimblett for the interim UFC lightweight championship belt at UFC 324. Ahead of this bout, Gaethje recalled two of his most painful defeats — against Charles Oliveira and Max Holloway.
In 2022, Gaethje faced Oliveira for the vacant UFC lightweight championship title, as the Brazilian was unable to make weight and was stripped of the belt. Despite Oliveira not holding the title, Gaethje had a chance to claim the championship belt, but he lost in the first round, succumbing to a submission. He later admitted that he was not in optimal shape due to a bicycle accident that occurred just 18 days before the fight.
In 2024, Gaethje also suffered a defeat against Max Holloway while defending the symbolic BMF (Baddest Motherf***er) belt. Holloway dominated the fight and knocked out Gaethje in the final moments of the fifth round. The American noted that improper psychological preparation played a key role in this defeat.
In an interview with ESPN, Gaethje stated: "These are the only two opponents I faced when I wasn't at my best - for different reasons." He acknowledged that he underestimated Holloway and mistakenly viewed the fight as entertainment rather than a serious challenge.
In 2020, 37-year-old Gaethje became the interim UFC champion by defeating Tony Ferguson. However, that same year, he failed to unify the belts, as he lost to Khabib Nurmagomedov.
If Gaethje wins against Pimblett, it will mark his second interim title and third opportunity to compete for the full championship belt. Current champion Ilia Topuria has temporarily suspended his appearances for personal reasons, which created the opportunity for the interim title to be contested.
