Holloway vs. Pimblett Next Title Fight?

Gaethje’s Retirement Puzzle

Justin Gaethje (28‑5 MMA, 11‑5 UFC) stunned Ilia Topuria (17‑1 MMA, 9‑1 UFC) to capture the 155‑lb title at UFC Freedom 250 in June. After initially saying “retirement didn’t feel right,” Gaethje has since left his future wide open. The former champion also hinted at a showdown with Conor McGregor if the Irishman had won UFC 329, but McGregor suffered an early injury and TKO loss to Max Holloway instead.

Holloway (28‑9 MMA, 24‑9 UFC) now finds himself in a prime position for a title shot, should Gaethje stay. If Gaethje walks away, longtime analyst Chael Sonnen says the UFC will have a full deck of contenders to shuffle. That list includes Charles Oliveira (37‑11 MMA, 25‑11 UFC) and Arman Tsarukyan (23‑3 MMA, 10‑2 UFC), both of whom could be awarded a belt in a Gaethje‑less landscape.

Sonnen’s Dream Matchups

Sonnen laid out several plausible title fights should the belt become vacant. He praised Max vs. Ilia and Max vs. Arman as quality options, and also mentioned Paddy Pimblett (24‑4 MMA, 8‑1 UFC) against either Ilia or Arman. In his eyes, the most compelling scenario is a direct clash between Holloway and Pimblett for the vacant championship.

“It’s going to be very hard to carve out Arman Tsarukyan right now,” Sonnen noted. “But Arman will let you know he just wants to fight.” He added that a Holloway‑Pimblett bout could be staged next, calling the pairing “pretty realistic.”

Pimblett’s Resurgence at UFC 329

Pimblett stole the co‑main event with a blistering 52‑second technical submission of Benoit Saint Denis, a performance that erased doubts after his January loss to Gaethje for interim gold. Sonnen praised the Brit as “very dangerous,” recalling his evolution from a mic‑ savvy rookie to a serious title contender. “There’s nothing that says to me he can’t be a world champion at the toughest weight class in the sport,” Sonnen said.

The win positions Pimblett as a legitimate 155‑lb contender and gives the UFC a fresh storyline heading into the next title cycle. If Gaethje’s retirement materializes, Holloway and Pimblett could headline the next pay‑per‑view, delivering the showdown Sonnen believes the division needs.