Justin Gaethje has officially carved his path to a title shot against Ilia Topuria with his emphatic win over Paddy Pimblett. The pair collided at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday night at UFC 324, kicking off the Paramount era. However, a new report has revealed that ‘The Highlight’ wasn’t the winner outside the Octagon.

According to a report from Jed I. Goodman on X, Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Pimblett, in fact, emerged as the winner over Justin Gaethje. How is that possible? Well, the win came in terms of gaining social media following in the aftermath of 2026’s first UFC event on Paramount. And Pimblett’s win is significant, as he gained 121K more followers.

The title dream for Paddy Pimblett isn’t dead yet

Before Saturday night’s event, Justin Gaethje had 752.8K followers on X and 2.8 million on Instagram. Paddy Pimblett, meanwhile, trailed him on X with 209.4K followers but dwarfed him on Instagram, boasting 5.02 million followers. Those numbers shifted following UFC 324 in Las Vegas.

According to Goodman, Gaethje gained 2.6K followers on X overnight, raising his total to 755.4K. On Instagram, ‘The Highlight’ added 53K followers, pushing his follower count to 2.634 million. However, those gains were eclipsed by Pimblett’s post-fight surge—despite his loss.

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Pimblett picked up 3.7K followers on X, bringing his total to 213.1K. On Instagram, his growth was even more significant, as he added 118K followers to reach 5.146 million. Clearly, a victory inside the Octagon doesn’t always translate to greater popularity outside of it.

Pimblett has long been regarded as a fan favorite, largely due to his charismatic and entertaining personality. That appeal only grew after his fight with Gaethje, where his durability stood out. Pimblett showcased an elite chin, refusing to go down despite absorbing several clean shots throughout the bout.

So what does this mean going forward? From Dana White’s perspective, Pimblett remains a major draw. And Pimblett could have a relatively smooth path back toward title contention—and potentially even a title shot—once Gaethje and Ilia Topuria settle their business.

Adding to that intrigue, the rivalry between Pimblett and Topuria is still very much alive. If the UFC decides to book that matchup in the future, it’s almost guaranteed to sell. Both casual viewers and hardcore fans would undoubtedly tune in, making it one of the promotion’s most marketable fights.

In the meantime, Ilia Topuria has already taken digs at both Pimblett and Gaethje. 

Ilia Topuria blasts Pimblett and Justin Gaethje after UFC 324

Ilia Topuria didn’t hold back following the main event of UFC 324, firing shots at both Paddy Pimblett and Justin Gaethje. Shortly after the fight, the reigning lightweight champion took to social media to mock Pimblett’s loss and highlight the missed opportunity.

“Little sausage, the only thing you had to do was beat a 38-year-old guy,” Topuria wrote. “You just lost the biggest paycheck of your life. You were going to get rich if you won.” Topuria also addressed Gaethje directly, offering brief congratulations before issuing a warning.

“Justin, all I can say is congratulations… and I’d like to tell you to get ready, but you’re screwed no matter what,” Topuria added. ‘El Matador’ won the lightweight title in June with a first-round knockout of Charles Oliveira and is expected to return this year, setting the stage for a blockbuster clash.

From the looks of things, both fighters headlining UFC 324 came out as winners. While Justin Gaethje won a shot at the title, Paddy Pimblett gained more followers, boosting his popularity at just 31. The Topuria fight can wait, especially since he is expected to win against ‘The Highlight.’ But do you think?