Ilia Topuria is away from the octagon for personal reasons, but the lightweight title picture continues to move forward. UFC president Dana White addressed the champion’s situation during a recent live broadcast and made it clear that the belt will be contested again shortly after Topuria completes his time away.
Topuria announced that he would not be available until the early months of 2026. White supported that timeframe and explained how the division will proceed during the champion’s absence.
White stated, “Obviously you just saw Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett for the interim title. Earlier, Topuria posted, ‘I’m dealing with some personal problems so I’m not going to fight the first quarter.’ The winner of Gaethje vs. Paddy will be the interim titleholder and then they will face Topuria.”
The temporary championship will be decided when Justin Gaethje meets Paddy Pimblett on January 24th at T Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Gaethje enters with twenty six victories and five defeats, while Pimblett brings twenty three wins with three losses and has yet to be beaten in the promotion.
🚨 Dana White confirms the winner of Justin Gaethje vs Paddy Pimblett will fight Ilia Topuria for the undisputed title
(via @danawhite) #UFC324 pic.twitter.com/zGwMO76jLE
— Delinquent MMA (@DelinquentMMA) November 27, 2025
The Lightweight Division Adjusts While Topuria Steps Away
Topuria’s hiatus does not erase concerns over how interim belts sometimes unfold. Recent history includes Tom Aspinall, who earned a temporary crown but later defended it because his unification matchup with Jon Jones took far longer than anticipated. That example caused speculation among fans about whether something similar might unfold again.
Topuria last fought in June at UFC two hundred seventeen when he claimed the vacant lightweight title with a first round finish of Charles Oliveira. His perfect record, combined with the dramatic manner in which he won the championship, has kept attention on him even as he addresses personal matters.
UFC 324 remains a major event because both contenders bring very different styles to the meeting. Gaethje is known for direct pressure and fight ending shots, while Pimblett has maintained his momentum inside the promotion with consistent performances. Their winner will hold the temporary crown and then meet Topuria once he resumes competition.
If Topuria returns during the early part of next year as planned, the lightweight division should move directly into a full title meeting soon after UFC 324 concludes, creating a clear path for the championship in two thousand twenty six.
