UFC 324 live blog: Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett

This is the UFC 324 live blog for Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett, the interim lightweight championship main event bout Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Gaethje and Pimblett, No. 5 and No. 11 (tied) at 155 pounds respectively in the MMA Fighting Global Rankings, vie for an interim title with undisputed champion Ilia Topuria currently on hiatus from competition for personal reasons.

If Gaethje (26-5) is victorious Saturday night, he’ll notch a unique place for himself in the UFC history books as the only fighter to become interim champion twice. That would just be the first step in a bigger goal for Gaethje as he hopes to cap off his illustrious career with an undisputed title to his name, possibly in a marquee slot at the upcoming UFC White House event.

Pimblett (23-3) is 7-0 in the UFC and looks to silence the doubters by putting gold around his waist, interim or otherwise. Recent wins over Michael Chandler, King Green, and Tony Ferguson have continued to raise the Englishman’s profile while also raising questions as to whether he is benefiting from facing past-their-prime opposition. Beating the always dangerous Gaethje will go a long way towards boosting Pimblett’s credentials.

Check out the UFC 324 live blog for Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett below.

Preamble

Yup, it’s about to happen: Either Gaethje becomes an interim champion twice-over, or Pimblett shocks the world and lays claim to some form of UFC title. Are you ready???

Walkouts

Crowd is going absolutely CRAZY for Pimblett. He’s soaking in every minute. Love him or hate him, the man has a connection with the audience. “Superstar” is not overselling it.

Atmosphere is a little more somber for Gaethje. Could this be the last time we see “The Highlight” make the walk to the octagon?

Always tell me the odds

It’s Pimblett’s fight to lose as FanDuel has him posted as the -245 favorite. Gaethje a 2-to-1 underdog in what could be his final crack at a UFC title.

Round 1

Marc Goddard the third man in the cage for your main event.

Pimblett with a wide open stance, looking to swipe at Gaethje’s legs from long range. Right hand from Pimblett over the top, that gets Gaethje flinching. Pimblett with a leg kick and then a left hand. Gaethje answers with a right. Another right over the top from Pimblett connects. High kick to Gaethje’s face, he just eats it. Gaethje with an uppercut. Gaethje swarming and that uppercut hurt Pimblett!

Pimblett on his knees turtling up, Gaethje picking his shots. Gaethje backs off to let Pimblett stand. Pimblett was landing good shots earlier, but once Gaethje got in his face, that changed the fight. He’s finding success again though, Gaethje just eating punches and another high kick. Gaethje doesn’t seem to care.

Gaethje with a right hand that misses, but he transitions into a body lock. The separate and it’s Pimblett with a wild swing, Gaethje pops him with a quick combo. Nice uppercut by Pimblett. Teep kick pushes Gaethje back. Right hand from Gaethje as he chases Pimblett, but the action pauses with Pimblett complaining of an eye poke. Goddard saw it and the replays confirm that Gaethje’s fingers were right in there, just a wide open hand to the face.

Fortunately the action resumes after Goddard gives Gaethje a stern warning. More leg kicks from Pimblett, but he eats another Gaethje right. Pimblett just standing in the pocket trading with him. No fear on either side, wow. Gaethje to the body. Action-packed five minutes.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Gaethje.

Round 2

Pimblett going to the jab here, looking to control the range. He’s still mixing in the leg kicks as well. Gaethje stuffs a takedown and he’s working the front headlock until they’re back up. Pawing jab by Gaethje, that one hurt. Body kick by Pimblett and he stumbles after. Awkward moment. Gaethje with a stiff left in the clinch. This is a dirty, grimy fight. Just like Gaethje likes it.

Uppercut from Pimblett. Gaethje probably didn’t like that. He pressures Pimblett with punches. Leg kick from Pimblett and Gaethje just walks through it to land another jab. Knees to the body in the clinch by Pimblett. Jab from Gaethje as they separate. Gaethje is throwing wide, winging punches. Right hand scores for Gaethje, then a pair of jabs. Another Gaethje uppercut, then he drags Pimblett down with a front headlock. It’s not even Round 3 yet and it feels like they’re in deep waters.

As they start to rise, Gaethje throws a knee and that looks like it knocked Pimblett over if not down. Gaethje still coming forward and a right hand sends Pimblett crumbling against the fence. Gaethje on top throwing punches and elbows. Pimblett still in there but he has to hang on with 30 seconds left in the round. Gaethje stands as Pimblett throws upkicks, then Gaethje just drops down with an elbow right on Pimblett’s face. Bam.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Gaethje. Overall, 20-18 Gaethje.

Round 3

Gaethje coming out swinging and Pimblett has to retreat. Gaethje in full Terminator mode. Pimblett settling down with his jab. He lands a few, but then gets caught by a counter left. He’s having difficulty scoring without getting caught. Pimblett is ahead through the first two minutes of this round though.

And here comes Gaethje. He seems content to absorb damage knowing all he needs is one big moment to take the round as he has the past two. Good high kicks from Pimblett. Right hand from Gaethje on the money. Good counter right from Pimblett. He lands a left on the button. Pimblett turning it up, but Gaethje is right there with hard counter punches. Pimblett slips in an uppercut. Jumping knee from Pimblett and Gaethje complains of a low blow, so we have a break in the action.

Replays show that knee went right into the cup. Yowza!

Right hand from Pimblett. He’s flicking some high kicks out, too, strong round for “The Baddy.” Gaethje starting to mix in leg kicks now, then a crisp right.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Pimblett. Overall, 29-28 Gaethje.

Round 4

Gaethje jabs the body. That could be a different wrinkle. Paddy answers with body punches of his own. Looping right from Gaethje, Pimblett answers with a left. Two more rights catch Pimblett, who dips in only to absorb another left. Gaethje with front headlock control again.

They separate, then clash again with Gaethje just shoving Pimblett to the ground. Gaethje with a jab, Pimblett connects with a low kick. Thudding right lands for Gaethje. He’s right in Pimblett’s face and there’s a big left hand. Pimblett’s iron chin being put to the test and then some. Gaethje continues to chase and just swing that right hand like a hammer.

Pimblett complaining about a knee below the belt as they jockey in the clinch against the fence. Back to the center of the octagon. They trade jabs. Pimblett with a left hook, followed by a high kick to Gaethje’s chest. Body kick by Pimblett. Off-balance spinning strike by Pimblett doesn’t come close. Pimblett back to the jab. Flicking backfist from Pimblett. They’re throwing everything at each other. Pimblett kicks the leg, then follows up with a good combo. It looks like Pimblett slips again, not sure what’s going on there.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Gaethje. Overall, 39-37 Gaethje.

Round 5

Pimblett needs a finish and he’s fighting like it, just trading with Gaethje to start the round. Gaethje slows him down with a hard right. Pimblett tries to push Gaethje away, but another right smacks his jaw. Combination from Pimblett and Gaethje goes for a Thai clinch. Pimblett breaks out and gets back to his jab. Body lock and trip attempt by Pimblett, that looked good, but Gaethje’s takedown defense is elite. He’s still standing.

They’re wrestling along the fence as time ticks away. This isn’t good for Pimblett. Left from Gaethje on the break, then a right, then it’s back to the grind on the cage. Two minutes left for Pimblett to pull off some magic.

Right hand for Gaethje. And another right hand. Pimblett giving, but not as good as he’s getting. But don’t tell him that! He’s firing away with Gaethje on the defensive now. These dudes are steel. Gaethje pressing Pimblett against the fence, but Pimblett not just accepting position with 30 seconds remaining. Pimblett throwing with 10 seconds to go, he lands a high knee, both guys are slipping and sliding. Wild ending to a wild fight.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Pimblett. Overall, 48-47 Gaethje.

Post-fight

Gaethje has nothing but respect for Pimblett. “Scousers do not get knocked out. That Scouser does not get knocked out.”

“I told ya,” Pimblett chimes in.

“What a f*cking gangster,” Gaethje says.

Gaethje says his coach was upset with his reckless approach tonight. “I went away from the game plan by trying to kill him.” He credits his coaches for guiding him to a win.

Pimblett gets his interview, as well.

“I wanted to be walking away with that belt and I know how tough I am anyway, I don’t need to prove it to anyone. I wanted to leave with that belt, but there’s no other man I’d rather lose to than ‘The Highlight.’ Justin Gaethje is someone I’ve loved watching, I grew up watching the UFC, and it shows why he’s a legend right there.”

Source link