*This content was translated by AI.
The UFC lightweight (70.3kg) champion's position, which was away due to family events, cannot be left vacant forever. El Matador will decide the potential champion to challenge Ilia Topuria (29, Spain/Georgia).
UFC will hold 'UFC 324: Gaichi vs Pimblett' at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on the 25th (Korea Standard Time). In the main event, former UFC lightweight provisional champion and BMF (Boy In Luv) champion Justin Gaic (37, USA), ranking fourth, and Paddy Pimblett (31, England), ranking fifth, will face off for the UFC lightweight provisional title.
Topuria, the champion, will pick a provisional champion to replace him as the gap is prolonged due to his family history. The winner of this match will challenge Topuria's official title when Topuria returns and succeed to the championship if Topuria fails to return.
Maybe this is the last chance to win the championship. Gaichi (26-5), a 37-year-old veteran, tried twice for UFC lightweight titles but lost to Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira on submission, respectively. "I don't think UFC will give me another chance to win the title," he said, vowing, "My goal is to become a champion."
On the contrary, Pimblett had his first chance. It is Pimblett's first UFC title match with 23 wins and 3 losses. He, who has won seven consecutive games since entering UFC in 2021, proved his top competitiveness by TKOing Chandler, who challenged UFC title at UFC 314 in April last year, with Elbow and Punch. "I've always said I'll be a UFC world champion since I was young," he said, guaranteeing victory, saying, "Geichi is just another one who is just standing in front of my walking path."
Pimblett, who has won 10 of his 23 wins as a submission, predicted a fierce batting battle, saying, "After this game, the gay will never be the same physically." Pimblett said, "I'll give him a beating he's never had before," and boasted, "I promise you."
Gaichi wants to show the veteran's mature game management. "I've played 31 games and I've prepared for at least 20 rounds of 5 games," he said, stressing, "If we go beyond the fourth and fifth rounds, Pimblett will be a corpse." "I will show you my technical skills," he said, "and I will control the distance, make an angle, and damage it."
In the comedy event, third-place 'Sugar' Sean O'Malley (31, USA), a former UFC bantamweight (61.2kg), and fifth-place 'Kungfu Kid' Song Ya-dong (28, China) will face off. O'Malley hits a tall pin point with excellent finishing ability, and Song Ya-dong also hits a kung fu base, but his wrestling skills are solid. The winner of this match is likely to be the first challenger to Peter Jan (32, Russia), who is again the champion.
O'Malley said, "If we win this time, we have to challenge for the title next time against Jan," adding, "If Jan and I compete in the White House, it will be a huge game." At the same time, he remained vigilant, saying, "Songya-dong is powerful and fast."
Song Ya-dong said, "This is the most important game of my life," adding, "Just a victory is not enough, and I want to knock out O'Malley."
The main card of "UFC 324: Gaichi vs Pimblett" will be broadcast live on TVING from 11 a.m. on January 25 and the undercard from 9 a.m.
■ UFC 324: Gaichi vs Pimblett
Main Card (11 a.m. on TVING)
[Lightweight preliminary title match] #4 Justin Gaich vs #5 Paddy Pimblett
[Bantamweight] #3 Sean O'Malley vs #5 Song Night Dong
[Heavyweight] #5 Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. #8 Derek Lewis
[Female flyweight] #2 Natalia Silva vs #6 Rose Namayunas
[Feather-like] #6 Arnold Allen vs #10 Jeang Silva
Undercard (TVING 9 a.m.)
[Bantamweight] #2 Umar Nurmagomedov vs. #6 Davison Figueredo
[Middle] Ateva Gauthier vs Andrei Pulayev
[Light heavyweight] #13 Nikita Krylov vs Modestas Bukauskas
Fight Pass Undercard (7AM FC Fight Pass)
[Flyweight] #11 Alex Perez vs #13 Charles Johnson
[Lightweight] Michael Johnson vs Alexander Hernandez
[Heavy] Josh Hawkitt vs Denzel Freeman
[Bantam grade] Ricky Tercios vs Cameron Smotherman
[Welter] Adam Pugit vs Ty Miller
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*This content was translated by AI.
