LAS VEGAS – UFC is set to begin the Paramount era with a bang on Saturday night. The company’s first card of the $ 1.1-billion-per-year broadcast deal features an interim title fight between the hard-hitting Justin Gaethje and the loud-mouthed Paddy Pimblett that in all likelihood, will go a long way toward defining both fighters’ legacies. 

The winner of Saturday’s bout is all but guaranteed a chance to fight Ilia Topuria, who is considered by some to be the best pound-for-pound fighter in the sport, for the undisputed lightweight title belt. Topuria stepped away from the sport last month due to a personal issue, paving the way for re-introduction of an interim belt for the division until his return.

For Gaethje, this is his last chance at pure gold. He already knocked out Tony Ferguson to win the interim belt for the first time at UFC 249 in 2020, but he responded to that win by throwing the belt to the floor. Being an interim champion means very little when the true champion remains waiting in the wings, and that proved true as Gaethje was dominated by Khabib Nurmagomedov and lost by submission when he got his first opportunity at the belt. 

His second title opportunity against Charles Oliveira also ended by submission, and when he was knocked out by Max Holloway in the final seconds of their classic bout at UFC 300, it appeared that opportunity may never come again. However, he wasn’t docked too much due to his effort in such a battle, and a dominant win over Rafael Fiziev at UFC 313 in April shot him right back into the title picture. 

If Gaethje loses on Saturday night, he won’t be given the same grace he was given for his loss against Holloway. If he wins, he gets one last crack at the biggest thing that’s eluded him throughout his career. To do that, he knows he has to bait Pimblett into one of the five-round “wars” he’s become known for.

“(The later rounds) is where I find the most success,” Gaethje said. “He’s weird. He's awkward, awkward fighting style. It's going to be a little puzzle. I'm going to have to figure it out through the first round. Similar to my other opponents, I am constantly building momentum, and this is a battle of momentum.”

For Pimblett, this is his big introduction to the main event stage. He’s the rare fighter in the modern UFC that is a legitimate draw outside of the Octagon, in large part because he’s arguably the most public-facing active fighter the organization has in terms of media appearances and online presence. His thick Scouse accent and punchy one-liners have made him a popular figure on apps like TikTok, even among people who have no affinity towards fighting. 

Because of the fact that he had faced a weak lineup of fighters and is an outsized personality, it’s taken him a bit more time than it has taken other prospective champions to enter the title picture. Pimblett’s last fight, a stunning TKO of Michael Chandler, earned him Performance of the Night honors and made it an undeniable reality that his next fight would be on the main card.

If Pimblett were to beat Gaetjhe on Saturday night and solidify himself as a true threat toward the belt, the sky is the limit for the hype on a potential Pimblett vs. Topuria bout. It’s such a tempting fight that Topuria was openly calling for it after his defeat of Charles Oliveria, but the truth is that Pimblett needs to make one more statement before he gets that opportunity. 

Saturday is Pimblett’s first chance to make that statement, and best believe he’s going for it. 

“I know I've got the heart and the desire to go five rounds with a warrior like Justin, but it's not going to go that long,” Pimblett said. “As I say, I'm going to put a beating on him and it's going to be like he's never had before. And I can't wait to show everyone just how good I am.”