HOW PADDY PIMBLETT’S "DISRESPECTFUL" POIRIER COMMENTS IGNITED THE UFC 324 PRESS CONFERENCE
Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett face off for the interim title at UFC 324. Discover the start times, Poirier drama, and fight odds.
Justin Gaethje didn’t hold back. He slammed Paddy Pimblett for trash-talking some of the UFC’s biggest names, and you could see the tension between them ramp up before their fight.
They’re set to face off Saturday night at UFC 324 in Las Vegas. The interim lightweight belt’s on the line, and, honestly, it’s a fight that feels like it’s been brewing for a while. The funny thing is, when Gaethje and Pimblett met at the launch presser last month, things were surprisingly chill. They shook hands, smiled for the cameras. But all that politeness disappeared at the final press conference on Thursday night.
That’s where it got interesting. Gaethje lost his cool when Pimblett started taking shots at UFC legend Dustin Poirier, claiming Poirier looked “dog s***” in his last fight against Max Holloway. This was during a conversation about whether Gaethje himself is on a “goodbye tour”—something people keep speculating about. Gaethje brushes it off, but his coach, Trevor Wittman, says this is Gaethje’s last big run at the undisputed title. Everything’s on the line Saturday.
So when they went face-to-face on Thursday, Gaethje didn’t sugarcoat his feelings. “I love everything he’s been saying,” Gaethje said, his voice tinged with sarcasm. “He sounds overconfident—he’s out here disrespecting legends like Dustin Poirier. I’m going to dog walk this English fuck on Saturday. Watch.”
Pimblett, for his part, didn’t back down. He told TNT Sports that Poirier put too much pressure on himself by announcing his retirement before fighting Holloway. “He’s come out and said, ‘Yeah, I’m in this retirement fight,’ and he looked like a piece of dog s***. Got his head punched in for five rounds and looked like shit. If you’re going to retire, just do it. Don’t tell everyone. He put too much expectation on his shoulders and got miffed in his own backyard, making himself look stupid.”
On Thursday, Pimblett doubled down. “Dustin’s never had a nice word to say about me, so I was honest—he looked like s***. Stop f***ing crying.” Gaethje wasn’t about to let that slide. He fired back, “You would also look like s*** against Holloway.”
A lot of people have written Pimblett off since this fight got announced. He keeps getting doubted, even though he’s become a real name in the sport. He earned his shot at the interim title by knocking out Michael Chandler last April.
Gaethje, meanwhile, has seen it all. He’s been in the UFC longer, fought in some absolute wars, and has a rep for finishing fights in brutal fashion. He’s already held the interim lightweight belt, though he’s come up short twice when it comes to the undisputed title. He heads into this one off a clear win over Rafael Fiziev in March.
So, when’s the fight? Pimblett vs. Gaethje goes down Saturday, January 24, at the T-Mobile Arena in Vegas. Early prelims start around 10pm GMT (that’s 5pm ET, 2pm PT, 4pm CT), with the regular prelims at midnight GMT (7pm ET, 4pm PT, 6pm CT). The main card kicks off at 2am GMT Sunday (9pm ET, 6pm PT, 8pm CT).
If you’re just tuning in for the main event, expect Pimblett to walk first at about 4am GMT Sunday (11pm ET, 8pm PT, 10pm CT), with Gaethje right after. Timings can change, especially if the undercard goes long, but that’s how things look right now.
LUKE LITTLER STAGES IMPROBABLE COMEBACK TO SECURE PREMIER LEAGUE DUBLIN TITLE
Luke Littler staged a miracle 0-5 comeback to defeat Gerwyn Price 6-5 and claim Premier League Night Seven in Dublin.
Luke Littler pulled off an incredible comeback to win Night Seven of the 2026 Premier League Darts in Dublin, edging out Gerwyn Price 6-5 in a gripping final at the 3Arena.
Starting the match down 5-0, Littler managed to turn things around, finishing with a sharp 81 checkout on double 15 to claim his second nightly win of the season. This victory strengthened his position in the hunt for a playoff spot. Price, the world champion, seemed to be heading for a comfortable win after dominating early on. However, a string of missed match darts allowed Littler to complete this remarkable turnaround, much to the delight of the lively Dublin crowd.
Littler and Price both earned their places in the final with strong performances throughout the night. Littler kicked off with a solid 6-3 win over Stephen Bunting in a match where both players averaged over 100. His ability to close out legs made the difference, converting six doubles from 13 attempts to secure his spot in the semi-finals.
There, he faced Michael van Gerwen in one of the season’s standout matches. The high-scoring battle featured big moments from both sides, including a spectacular 170 checkout from Van Gerwen. Littler matched the intensity, hitting his own impressive finishes and eventually held his nerve in a deciding leg to win 6-5 and move into the final.
On the other side, Gerwyn Price was ruthless in his journey to the final. He opened with a commanding 6-0 victory over Josh Rock, who has continued to struggle in this season’s Premier League. Price’s clinical play, averaging over 100 and converting six doubles from 11 tries, set the tone. He carried that momentum into the semi-finals with a dominant 6-1 win against the reigning champion Luke Humphries, averaging 109.04 and maintaining pressure from the first dart.
The final started predictably, with Price in full control. He quickly jumped to a 5-0 lead, capitalising on Littler’s early missed chances. After finally getting on the board with a 52 finish, Littler seemed outmatched at 5-1. But Price missed several opportunities to close out the match, including a crucial miss at double top for a 72 checkout.
Seizing the moment, Littler struck back with a 76 checkout, shifting the momentum. The Dublin crowd got behind him as he rattled off consecutive legs, eventually tying it at 5-5 after Price missed another double. In the deciding leg, Littler sealed the comeback with a precise 81 checkout, combining treble 17 and double 15, leaving everyone in the arena stunned.
Beyond the headline final, Night Seven had other significant developments in the playoff race. Jonny Clayton, the league leader, took his first quarter-final defeat of the season, losing 6-3 to Luke Humphries. This not only ended Clayton’s unbeaten run at this stage but handed him his first pointless night.
Josh Rock’s struggles also continued. After seven weeks, he remains without a win, suffering a heavy defeat to Price and staying at the bottom of the table as his Premier League debut continues to be a tough challenge.
There was a last-minute change when Gian van Veen withdrew due to illness, giving Van Gerwen a walkover into the semi-finals. Still, Van Gerwen couldn’t take advantage of the extra rest, falling to Littler in a nail-biting deciding leg in the semis.
HOW THE KNICKS PLAN TO REPLACE JOSH HART’S HISTORIC ENERGY
Josh Hart is out with knee pain, but Jalen Brunson returns as the Knicks eye a fifth straight win against the Nets.
The Knicks face a tough challenge Friday night as they’ll be without one of their key glue guys. Josh Hart is sidelined with patellofemoral syndrome in his right knee, a hit that comes at a pretty awkward moment. The team’s riding a four-game winning streak and trying to solidify their playoff standing in the Eastern Conference.
With Hart out, Landry Shamet is expected to slide into the starting lineup. Coach Mike Brown might lean more heavily on veteran Jordan Clarkson and rookie Mohamed Diawara to cover those extra minutes on the floor.
There’s a bit of good news to balance this out: Jalen Brunson is back after missing Tuesday’s game due to a sore ankle and neck strain. That gets the Knicks’ offensive engine back in gear, but losing Hart carries a different kind of weight.
Hart’s been central to this group all season, not just scoring, but keeping the lineups cohesive and pushing the tempo. His relentless hustle, grabbing rebounds, leading fast breaks, and doing the gritty work, helps the whole team click. Brown has openly praised how crucial Hart’s energy and connection are.
“He’s been fantastic, giving us that energy, keeping our group connected,” Brown said after their recent win. “Crashing the boards, picking up the pace, attacking in transition – those are the things that make a difference.”
Brown even compared Hart’s impact to what Andre Iguodala brought to championship-winning teams. It’s that veteran savvy and basketball IQ that might not always show up in stats, but often marks the difference between just making it and truly winning.
Hart’s recent game really underscored what he adds when he’s firing on all cylinders. In Tuesday’s 136-110 rout of the Pacers, he exploded for a Knicks career-high 33 points, hitting 12 of 13 shots and draining all five of his threes. On top of that, he grabbed seven rebounds, dished five assists, and swiped two steals in just 26 minutes.
That wasn’t just a hot streak; it was historic. Hart became the first NBA player ever to score at least 30 points, hit five threes, grab five rebounds, and dish out five assists all on 90% shooting or better. He also joined a very exclusive Knicks group with a 30-point night at 90% shooting.
Thanks in large part to him, New York cruised to a 45-25 season mark. OG Anunoby added 26, Karl-Anthony Towns notched a double-double, and the team looked strong overall.
Now the focus shifts to the supporting cast as the Nets come to town. Shamet will bring much-needed shooting to the starting five. Clarkson’s scoring punch is going to be even more important with Hart out, and Diawara should see more extended minutes, especially on defence.
The Nets will be eager to play spoiler, so the Knicks will need everyone diving after loose balls, maintaining the pace, and staying connected. It will definitely take a collective effort to cover for Hart’s absence.
Hart’s knee issue doesn’t seem like it will drag on, but missing him highlights just how pivotal he has become to New York’s success this season. Brunson’s return helps keep the offence on track, but replacing everything Hart offers, especially following a night like that, is no easy feat.
