Justin Gaethje built his UFC career starring in memorable fights. However, behind the aggressive and striking style that made him famous in the lightweight division (up to 70,3 kg), there is a curious fact that resurfaces on the eve of UFC 324, and Paddy Pimblett may be part of that story.
The so-called "curse" of Gaethje doesn't involve bad luck or mysticism, but a pattern that's hard to ignore: all five of the American's losses in the organization have come against champions. Whenever he was defeated in the UFC, the opponent who defeated "Highlight" already held, or would come to hold, a UFC belt.
The narrative began to take shape in December 2017, at UFC 218, when Gaethje suffered his first defeat in professional MMA. Facing Eddie Alvarez, former lightweight champion, the American waged an intense war, but was ultimately knocked out in the third round. A few months later, in April 2018, it was Dustin Poirier , former interim lightweight champion, who defeated him by technical knockout in the fourth round of 'UFC on Fox 29'.
In October 2020, Gaethje had the chance to unify the lightweight title against Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 254. After a competitive start, he was submitted with a triangle choke in the second round by the undefeated champion. The sequence continued in May 2022, at UFC 274 , when he faced Charles Oliveira for the vacant lightweight title. Despite some good moments on his feet, Gaethje was submitted in the first round.
The "curse" persisted even outside the lightweight division. At UFC 300 in April 2024, Gaethje defended the BMF belt against Max Holloway , former featherweight champion (up to 65,7 kg), and was knocked out in the last second of the fifth round.
Justin Gaethje has only lost to UFC champions, and he has only lost via finish 🧾 pic.twitter.com/zW2nCsN1MX
— MMA On Point (@mmaonpoint) January 19, 2026
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Now, at UFC 324, "The Highlight" faces Paddy Pimblett for the interim lightweight title. If the Englishman wins, the streak will remain intact, as he would become champion. A victory for Gaethje would keep the statistic alive in another way: Justin would continue undefeated against non-titled fighters in the organization. Check out the fight card for event number 324 below (subject to change).
UFC 324 fight schedule
MAIN CARD
Lightweight (up to 70,3 kg): Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett – Title fight
Bantamweight (up to 61,2 kg): Sean O'Malley vs. Song Yadong
Heavyweight (up to 120,2 kg): Waldo Cortes Acosta vs. Derrick Lewis
Featherweight (up to 65,7 kg): Arnold Allen vs. Jean Silva
PRELIMINARY CARD
Flyweight (up to 56,7kg): Natalia Silva vs. Roje Namajunas
Bantamweight (up to 61,2 kg): Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Deiveson Figueiredo
Average weight (up to 83,9 kg): Ateba Gautier x Andrey Pulyaev
Light heavyweight (up to 93 kg): Nikita Krylov vs. Modestas Bukauskas
Flyweight (up to 56,7kg): Alex Perez vs. Charles Johnson
Lightweight (up to 70,3 kg): Michael Johnson vs. Alexander Hernandez
Heavyweight (up to 120,2 kg): Josh Hokit vs. Denzel Freeman
Bantamweight (up to 61,2 kg.): Ricky Turcios x Cameron Smotherman
Welterweight (up to 77 kg): Adam Fugitt vs. Ty Miller
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