Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett delivered one of the most exciting performances in recent memory at UFC 324. However, not everyone was impressed with the first main event at UFC on Paramount.
After a combined nearly 650 throws and 370 ground strikes, Gaethje and Pinblett emerged from Saturday’s war of attrition as Gaethje won his second interim lightweight title. It was a brutal, bloody affair – a back-and-forth war of attrition in which the underdog proved he was still an elite contender and the polarizing Pimblitt proved he was much tougher than many expected.
advertise
As perhaps expected with any fight involving Pimblitt, the two UFC fighters were divided over what they saw at UFC 324.
The likes of UFC legend Dustin Poirier saw it as an opportunity to dunk on the “bad guy,” while the likes of Josh Barnett and Matt Brown weighed in on the sometimes sloppy technique used by both main eventers. Still, many others simply celebrated the Gaethje-Pimblitt match — a thrilling display of heart and will that set the bar high for the 2026 Fight of the Year contest.
Check out a sample of reactions from the MMA world below.
Check out complete UFC 324 results, highlights and play-by-play here.