Paddy Pimblett’s UFC 324 Hype: Baddy Banter and Las Vegas Love
Posted on: January 14, 2026, 08:38h.
Last updated on: January 14, 2026, 10:02h.
- Casino.org interviews UFC lightweight fighter Paddy Pimblett
- Pimblett talks about how Las Vegas is his second-favorite place to fight, after his hometown of Liverpool
- Pimblett is the betting favorite for UFC 324
Two things stand out after Casino.org’s exclusive interview with UFC lightweight Paddy Pimblett. One, is that he’s looking forward to further shining up his legacy by taking out Justin Gaethje at UFC 324 before a possible showdown with Ilia Topuria.
That’s the fight legions of UFC fans are holding out for. Secondly, apart from his home city of Liverpool, his favorite place to fight is Las Vegas, where the January 24 lightweight interim title fight with Gaethje will take place at T-Mobile Arena.
Loves Las Vegas
“I get to go and headline in the fight capital of the world. There’s not many better places that you can fight, is there? It’s Las Vegas, man,” said Pimblett. “All the best fighters in the world have fought here. There’s only a couple of other places that I actually want to fight. Some places I don’t really care for too much.”
Pimblett said he’s staying in the Conrad Las Vegas at Resorts World as he prepares for the big fight. He’ll get out and enjoy the city he loves while there, but the business of Gaethje comes first.
Half the time, I don’t even get to eat now because I’m fighting, but the food there is fantastic,” he said. “I can’t wait to eat some food there this time around, after the fight.”
Topuria, meanwhile, who’s the UFC lightweight champion, has stepped away from the Octagon as he deals with a private family issue. There’s been no word on the timing of his return to UFC.
Updated Betting Lines
“I can’t wait to just get there now, we fly out on Tuesday. This (Gaethje) fight has been a long time coming,” said Pimblett. “I’ve been saying I was going to fight for the belt since I was a little kid, and now it’s finally here. So, to do it in Vegas, the fight capital of the world, just makes it even better.”
Pimblett told Casino.org that he also wants to fight in Madison Square Garden in New York before he retires.
“That’s obviously on the bucket list,” he said. “I want to fight in Abu Dhabi before I retire, and I’d also like to fight in Miami again (where he beat Michael Chandler at UFC 314). Miami was unbelievable. But as I always say, I’ll fight anyone, anywhere. I want to beat whoever wants it. It’s as simple as that.”
Easy Run to a Title Shot?
Pimblett was asked if beating Gaethje will finally shut up the critics who say he’s had an easy run to the title shot. His latest fight saw him beat Chandler by TKO, with elbows and punches, in Round 3. In July 2024, against Bobby Green, Pimblett won the fight by submission via triangle choke in Round 1. In December 2023, Pimblett scored a unanimous decision over Tony Ferguson.
People are still going to say it. When I beat Justin, it’ll be the same story from these people, ‘Oh he’s beaten someone else who was over the hill, Justin was old,’ this and that, just like when I beat Chandler,” said Pimblett. “Before the Chandler fight, it was the same story, ‘Paddy’s getting knocked out, Paddy’s getting knocked out.’ Then, when I beat him, it was ‘Paddy only beat Chandler because he’s old.’”
“The goalposts get moved when it’s me, and I’m used to it — it’s all good. Literally, it’s just another day at the office for me.”
Also highlighting UFC 324 is a women’s bantamweight title bout between champion Kayla Harrison and Amanda Nunes.
As of Wednesday morning, FanDuel has the fights Pimblett -230, Gaethje +176, and Harrison -205, Nunes +158. At DraftKings, it’s Pimblett -238, Gaethje +195, and Harrison -225, Nunes +185. At BetMGM, it’s Pimblett -238, Gaethje +190, and Harrison -222, Nunes +180.
No comments yet