Former UFC Champion Unimpressed With UFC 324 Main Event Matchmaking

Luke Rockhold is not buying into the hype surrounding the UFC 324 main event.

During an appearance on Submission Radio, the former UFC middleweight champion shared his skepticism about the interim lightweight title fight between Paddy Pimblett (22-3 MMA, 7-0 UFC) and Justin Gaethje (26-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC), suggesting the matchup is designed more to elevate Pimblett than to crown a legitimate champion.

Rockhold criticized the UFC’s use of interim titles in general, arguing that they carry little real value, especially for established contenders like Gaethje.

“I think they’re trying to do anything they can to put little Paddy into a title situation,” Rockhold said. “I’m annoyed with fighters that think the interim title means anything. You see guys like Justin Gaethje, and he knows it. None of that s*** really means much to him because he wants to be a real champion.”

According to Rockhold, Gaethje’s perspective contrasts sharply with Pimblett’s, whom he believes is prematurely treating the interim belt as a full championship achievement.

“Then you’ve got Paddy, who’s already talking like, ‘I’m going to be champion,’ this and that,” Rockhold said. “Like it’s already there. Like this fight and that belt actually mean something. Come on. They’re doing anything they can to give Paddy the best matchup he can to be a champion, to bring that love back to the UK. So I don’t know…it’s not my favorite.”

Rockhold also pointed to lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan (23-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC) as an example of a fighter he believes represents a far greater challenge at the top of the division, particularly given his recent dominance in grappling competition and MMA.

“Arman’s a beast, man,” Rockhold said. “Look what he’s doing in grappling right now and how he’s just destroying these guys. That’s not easy. And then how he’s translated it to fighting…he’s a problem for everybody.”