The interim lightweight title is on the line in the first UFC event of 2026. Former interim titleholder Justin Gaethje takes on No. 5 ranked Paddy Pimblett in the Jan. 24 fight card’s main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The fight promotion created the interim title after undefeated champion Ilia Topuria announced that he was briefly stepping away from fighting while going through a divorce. Left out was top-ranked lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan, but he’s confident that he’ll fight for the title this year. He’s just not exactly sure when.
“Hopefully it’s in summer, or in the end of the year I’ll fight for the belt, for the title. And I can’t wait. Can’t wait,” Tsarukyan told Helen Yee Sports.
“It (a summer tittle bout) hasn’t been confirmed yet because there’s Ilia. If Ilia fights, I’ve got to wait. If Ilia isn’t going to fight in the summer, I’m the next for the belt.”
Tsarukyan’s comments seem to indicate that if Topuria doesn’t return this summer he’ll either be stripped of the title, or vacate it. According to Tsarukyan, there will be a lightweight title fight this summer. The winner of the UFC 324 main event will be half of it, but whom they’ll face between Topuria and Tsarukyan remains unclear.
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Potentially taking on the winner of Gaethje and Pimblett, Tsarukyan will be rooting for the former interim titleholder.
“I want Justin to beat Paddy because Justin, he’s going to fight with me. But Paddy, if Paddy wins he’s going to try to avoid me, trying not to fight me because he knows he’s not man like Justin,” Tsarukyan said.
“I’m going to get champion this year.”
