This Saturday, on Jan. 24th in Las Vegas, Paddy Pimblett will look to back up his brash confidence inside the octagon when he faces the legendary Justin Gaethje for the interim lightweight championship, headlining UFC 324, the promotion’s debut card on Paramount+.
As the UFC lightweight division prepares for another shift at UFC 324, “The Baddy” is already making waves with his bold assessment of the sport’s all-time greats. Ahead of this career-defining fight, Pimblett laid out his vision for ultimate greatness in the sport. This standard notably leaves the undefeated Khabib Nurmagomedov off the top spot in favor of his protege, Islam Makhachev.
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Paddy PimblettGetty Images
(Getty Images)
Who is Pimblett’s UFC GOAT?
During an interview with Applied Nutrition, Pimblett made a clear and direct argument for what he believes separates the great from the greatest:
Pimblett revealed, “That’s always been my dream, to be talked about as one of the greats. And you can’t really do it unless you’re a two-weight champion like Islam [Makhachev] is. He’s higher on the GOAT discussion than Khabib now, because he is a two-weight champion.”
Khabib or Islam?
“The Baddy” explicitly stated that he believes Islam should be considered a greater fighter than Khabib. His scoring criteria for the debate of the greatest MMA fighter of all time hinges entirely on Makhachev’s double champ status.
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Although what Pimblett said may cause a stir, there is a case to be made for either fighter to be considered the greatest of all time.
After a dominant reign as lightweight champion, Makhachev moved up to welterweight and defeated Jack Della Maddalena to capture the 170-pound title at UFC 322.
Islam Makhachev
Outside of the double champion accomplishment, this victory tied him with Anderson Silva’s record for the longest winning streak in the promotion at 16 consecutive wins.
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Khabib Nurmagomedov, on the other hand, retired with a perfect 29-0 record, while Makhachev has suffered a loss. Nurmagomedov is also widely considered one of the most dominant champions ever, despite only capturing the UFC lightweight title during his career.
Khabib NurmagomedovGetty Images
(Getty Images)
Ultimately, the debate Pimblett ignited is not about finding a definitive answer but about appreciating two masterclasses in dominance. It asks fans to decide what matters most: the perfect, unbroken legacy of Khabib or the dynamic, record-breaking expansion of greatness achieved by Makhachev.
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Pimblett Chases His Own Legacy
Pimblett’s comments come on the eve of the biggest fight of his own career. At UFC 324, he faces Justin Gaethje, a former interim champion himself and one of the sport’s most beloved action fighters, for the interim lightweight title.
(L-R) Justin Gaethje, Paddy Pimblett Chris Unger/
(Chris Unger/)
If he succeeds on Saturday, Pimblett could have a long-awaited unification bout against the current undisputed champion, Ilia Topuria.
True to his outspoken nature, Pimblett has predicted a definitive end to his showdown with ‘The Highlight.’
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“Sad to say, I think I’m going to retire him,” Pimblett told James Regan from ESPN. “I’m preparing to beat him up in all facets of MMA, whether it’s on the ground or on the feet.”
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Jan 21, 2026, where it first appeared in the MMA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
