Justin Gaethje brutally trolls Paddy Pimblett’s kicking game after interim lightweight title victory at UFC 324

Justin Gaethje has opened up about the tactics that he used in his interim lightweight title victory over Paddy Pimblett at the UFC 324 in Meta Apex, Las Vegas on February 7, Saturday. The American fighter won the main event by unanimous decision and became a two-time interim champion. His performance drew attention because he repeatedly circled toward Pimblett’s power hand, a risky move that surprised many viewers and analysts watching the fight.

Gaethje later discussed the bout during a conversation with former UFC flyweight champion Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson. Johnson questioned the decision and said he would have punished that movement with kicks. Gaethje explained he quickly realized Pimblett’s strikes were not strong enough to stop his forward pressure. The confidence had allowed him to continue using the same strategy throughout the fight.

Justin Gaethje confidence helped him beat Paddy Pimblett while the latter lacked damaging kicks

Justin Gaethje said Paddy Pimblett was landing kicks but they did not hurt him, which convinced him he could keep moving forward safely. He noted that once he understood he could absorb the attacks without danger, the fight became easier to control.

Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson acknowledged the reasoning, even though he would normally advise fighters not to move into an opponent’s power side. He pointed out that fight strategies depend on specific matchups. According to Johnson, Gaethje himself admitted that he would generally approach a fight differently against an opponent who has a much better footwork and striking variety.

Notably, the bout happened after champion Ilia Topuria stepped away temporarily from competition, leading the promotion to create an interim title fight. Gaethje’s win now positions him for a future unification bout when Ilia Topuria returns back to the cage.

The American’s aggressive approach has always been a part of his style, but he has clarified that his tactics were tailored specifically for Paddy Pimblett. Johnson agreed that fighters sometimes accept calculated risks when they believe their opponent lacks the power to capitalize.

Gaethje has expressed interest in facing Topuria later this year, possibly at a major summer event like the White House UFC Card. Until then, the discussion around his strategy continues, with analysts debating whether his calculated gamble was brilliance or simply confidence in his durability.





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