Imagine becoming champion, not through a hard-fought victory over the reigning king, but because of circumstances beyond the cage. That's the potential reality facing Paddy 'The Baddy' Pimblett, and he's got some strong opinions about it.
As of January 5th, 2026, the buzz is all about Paddy Pimblett's potential rise to undisputed UFC lightweight champion. This hinges on his upcoming interim title fight at UFC 324 against Justin Gaethje on January 24th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. You see, current UFC Lightweight Champion Ilia Topuria is dealing with some serious legal troubles related to allegations of domestic abuse involving his ex-wife. This situation, reported extensively by MMA Junkie, casts a long shadow over his fighting future.
And this is the part most people miss... it’s not just about Topuria’s absence; it's about the duration of that absence.
Pimblett, currently boasting a stellar 23-3 MMA record (7-0 in the UFC), is understandably eager to climb to the top. Gaethje, a seasoned veteran with a 26-5 MMA record (9-5 in the UFC), stands in his way, but the real obstacle might be Topuria's legal woes.
Interestingly, Tom Aspinall, who himself was promoted to UFC Heavyweight Champion after Jon Jones' retirement, has weighed in on the legitimacy of interim titles. Aspinall, speaking on his YouTube channel, emphatically stated, "Interim is a genuine title. It's a genuine world title! The people who say it's not a genuine title have never won a title in their life. They're the ones who say it's not." This endorsement adds weight to the significance of Pimblett's upcoming fight.
But here's where it gets controversial...
Pimblett acknowledges the unusual circumstances. He envisions a scenario where, much like Aspinall, his interim title could be upgraded to undisputed status due to Topuria's prolonged absence. "People keep saying you're probably going to end up like Tom when you win – it'll get upgraded – because people are saying Ilia's not going to be back for at least a year," Pimblett explained. He further added that the situation could potentially drag on for as long as two years if the legal proceedings become complicated.
Now, here's the Catch-22 that Pimblett highlights: He wants to fight Topuria. He wants to prove he can beat him and claim the title definitively. However, he's also wary of being kept in limbo, similar to Aspinall's situation while waiting for Jon Jones. "If he's going to sit out for that long, I would rather him just vacate and stop holding the division up. But I do want to fight him, so it's a catch-22. I want to beat Ilia up and show everyone that I can beat him, but at the same time, if he's going to have me waiting like Tom was waiting for Jon, then no. Just vacate, lad, and let the division crack on."
So, what's the right call here? Should Topuria relinquish the title to keep the division moving, even if he intends to return? Or should he hold onto it, potentially creating a logjam at the top? And what constitutes a “legitimate” champion in this situation? Is an interim title truly equivalent to the undisputed belt? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. Do you agree with Pimblett, or do you think Topuria should hold onto the belt until he can defend it, regardless of the timeline?
