Champion backs Pimblett over Gaethje and discusses potential showdown after UFC 324

The UFC is reportedly not planning to strip Ilia Topuria of his lightweight title, even if that means the winner of the UFC 324 main event has to defend their interim belt later in 2026.

Pimblett is not likely to be bothered by that decision, as a showdown with ‘El Matador’ would still draw plenty of attention. However, he has floated another scenario.

During an appearance on Tom Aspinall’s YouTube channel, the 31-year-old suggested Alexander Volkanovski might push for a fight with him if both men come out on top in their upcoming title bouts.

Pimblett also mentioned that he does not particularly want to face ‘The Great’, who returns on January 31st. But he thinks the featherweight champion might view this as his best shot at becoming a double-champ.

In that context, Volkanovski recently explained why he thinks Pimblett can get it done against Gaethje, speaking with TNT Sports.

“That’s going to be a fun fight. I’m going to go with Paddy. There’s been a couple of times where I’ve thought Paddy’s had big tests in front of him and he’s passed them and he showed me in his last fight he can really stick to a game plan and he’s going to need that with Gaethje. So, I’m going to go Paddy,” the Australian star said.

Alexander Volkanovski admits fighting for the lightweight title now would be ‘unfair’

During the same interview, Volkanovski also spoke about whether another run at the lightweight title could be in his future plans.

The featherweight champion said that he would obviously take this opportunity if presented by the promotion, even though he is not sure he has earned it yet.

This comes amid criticism of his upcoming rematch with Diego Lopes, with some fans feeling there were other deserving contenders. Volkanovski says he needs those other names settled first before moving up again.

“Obviously, I want to do lightweight. I’d love to but obviously it needs to make sense. It needs to be, as I’ve always said, earned not given. You need to earn that,” he began by saying.

“Do I earn that right now? Probably not. But, I’m planning on going out there, I’ve got a lot of guys waiting so for me to go there and hold [up] the division wouldn’t be fair so I’ll go there and do my thing in February and hopefully do a quick turnaround.”