Charles Oliveira has given his take on the interim title fight that is set to headline UFC 324.
Paddy Pimblett will face Justin Gaethje for the interim lightweight title on January 24, headlining the first numbered UFC event of the Paramount+ era.
While there has been some fan pushback on the matchup, it remains an interesting stylistic clash between two of the division’s biggest names.
There was also talk that Oliveira might have been added to the same card, sparked by a quickly deleted post from one of the UFC’s social media accounts.
‘Do Bronx’, who holds a win over Gaethje from back in 2022, recently gave his take on the fight during an interview with Olhar da Luta.
Charles Oliveira breaks down Paddy Pimblett vs Justin Gaethje at UFC 324
Gaethje vowed for “another unforgettable night” after the announcement of his return at UFC 324. ‘The Highlight’ has remained a major force in the lightweight division since making his Octagon debut in 2017, while Pimblett has grown into one of the sport’s biggest names recently.
Their showdown offers a compelling contrast in styles, with both men excelling in very different areas of the game.
It was this angle that Oliveira chose to focus on when sharing his early thoughts.
‘Do Bronx’ is one of the few fighters to have traded blows with Gaethje and come out on top, submitting the American in the first round of their UFC 274 meeting to claim the vacant lightweight title.
Speaking after his recent win over Mateusz Gamrot in Brazil, Oliveira discussed the risks involved in facing Gaethje – and how Pimblett might pull off the biggest victory of his career.
“He [Pimblett] strikes well on his feet, can take the fight to the ground, and is constantly moving.
“On the other hand, we know that Justin Gaethje is a very tough fighter with insane striking, but he has some flaws on the ground.
“I think Pimblett won’t want to exchange blows with him, he’ll probably try to take it to the ground. If he decides to exchange blows, he could be knocked out. But, if he bets on the takedown, he has a chance to become champion. Still, I would really like Gaethje to come out victorious.”
Charles Oliveira believes another fighter should have been given the title shot
During the same interview, Oliveira shared his thoughts on how the division is shaping up at the moment.
Ilia Topuria’s break from fighting led to the creation of the interim title, but there has been some debate over whether it went to the right matchup.
Oliveira agreed with those criticisms, making a case for Arman Tsarukyan to be next in line. Tsarukyan, after all, had already beaten him in a title eliminator back at UFC 300.
‘Do Bronx’ said: “In my opinion, the athlete who really deserved to fight for the title was Arman Tsarukyan, considering everything he has been showing.”
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