Quick facts
- UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje shuts the door on a rematch with Paddy Pimblett.
- Asked about it on “The Pat McAfee Show”, he was categorical: “Are we destined to run it back? No. No, no, no.”
- The two men had already fought at UFC 324 in January, with Gaethje winning by unanimous decision.
- Pimblett, for his part, is coming off a 52-second submission win over Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC 329 and was calling for the fight.
You might have been expecting Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett to meet again inside the octagon. The UFC lightweight champion just cut that idea short. Asked about it, “The Highlight” was blunt: this rematch does not interest him, and he is already looking elsewhere for the next chapter of his reign.
A rematch called for by Pimblett, turned down by Gaethje
It all started at UFC 329, in Las Vegas, where Paddy Pimblett beat Benoit Saint-Denis by submission in just 52 seconds. A performance that made the Briton one of the night’s biggest winners, and let him bounce back from the first loss of his UFC career. In his post-fight interview, “The Baddy” used the microphone to call out several top-ranked lightweights, including Justin Gaethje, whom he had already faced a few months earlier.
That fight between the two men dates back to UFC 324, in January, where Gaethje won after five rounds by unanimous decision. A result that clearly did not satisfy Pimblett: he wants his rematch. Gaethje, for his part, sees things differently.
“Are we destined to run it back? No, no, no”
It was on “The Pat McAfee Show” that Justin Gaethje was asked about a possible rematch with Pimblett. His answer left no room for doubt: “Are we destined to run it back? No. No, no, no.” A clear rejection, in sharp contrast with the enthusiasm shown by his potential opponent.
Before UFC 329, the champion had still left the door open to a very different clash: a fight against Conor McGregor, on the condition that the Irishman beat Max Holloway. But McGregor went down on the very first exchange, due to injury, and that option disappeared along with his loss. Gaethje now has to look elsewhere for what comes next.
Limited options, but a heavyweight contender lurking
On paper, the field of credible opponents for Gaethje is not that wide. “The Highlight” already has losses against two other hugely popular lightweights in the division, Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira, both of whom are also in the title picture. In that context, it is hard to justify a new matchup against either one in the short term.
The name that comes up most logically is Arman Tsarukyan, currently the division’s top-ranked contender and coming off a win in his last fight. He appears to be the best placed to get the next title shot against Gaethje.
Pimblett is not the only one calling for a rematch with Gaethje. Ilia Topuria, a former two-division champion, also called for a second fight in his own post-fight comments, after his loss to the American. That adds to the line of contenders, without changing the champion’s mind on the Pimblett matchup.
Pimblett, in the top five but not a priority
Gaethje’s refusal comes just as Paddy Pimblett has broken into the UFC lightweight top five, lifted by his lightning-fast win over Benoit Saint-Denis. On paper, his stock has never been higher. But a strong ranking does not always guarantee priority for a title shot, especially when the champion favors another contender.
For Pimblett, the situation looks like a paradox: winning does not guarantee getting the fight he is asking for. He will likely have to keep fighting, and convince beyond the numbers, if he hopes to change Gaethje’s mind on this one.
What to take away
For now, no date or official opponent has been announced for Justin Gaethje’s next fight. But the message is clear: the door is closed for Paddy Pimblett, despite his recent entry into the division’s top five. Arman Tsarukyan remains the most serious option, pending official confirmation from the UFC. We’ll keep you posted as soon as the next title defense is confirmed.
The rest of the season is laid out on the 2026 UFC calendar. French fighters under contract are listed on the French UFC fighters page.
