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BEYOND THE BRAWL: HOW GAETHJE’S POWER PUNCHES EXPOSED PADDY PIMBLETT’S DEFENSIVE HOLES AT 324

Justin Gaethje is the new interim champ! Discover why his "bloody war" with Paddy Pimblett is splitting UFC fans and analysts.

Beyond the Brawl: How Gaethje’s power punches exposed Paddy Pimblett’s defensive holes at 324
Paddy Pimblett’s nine-fight win streak ends in Vegas slugfest

“That Scouser just doesn’t go down. Seriously, what a fucking gangster,” Justin Gaethje said, catching his breath after the fight and staring at Paddy Pimblett with something like disbelief. They’d just gone through 25 minutes of madness—about 400 strikes thrown, guys hitting the canvas, pure chaos. It’s the kind of fight people will talk about for years, even if the critics have already started picking it apart.

UFC veterans and analysts are calling this one a straight-up slugfest. The UFC 324 main event didn’t just open the Paramount era—it exploded through the door with a wild brawl that’s tough to top. But if you’re looking for perfect technique or high-level skill, well, you’re not going to find it here. Honestly, for a fight that was supposed to set the standard, UFC 324 ended up more as a warning than an example.

Even Matt Brown, a legend in his own right, couldn’t help chiming in online. He summed it up with brutal honesty: “That was one of the most entertaining ‘championship’ fights I’ve ever seen, but I’ve seen better technique at local shows. No hate! I’m just saying!” He’s right—the fight kept everyone watching, but calling it championship-level? That’s a stretch.

Still, credit where it’s due. Pimblett and Gaethje left everything in the cage—heart, grit, wild exchanges. They never let up. But let’s be real: the fight was all about raw action, not polished craft. Early on, a brutal kick to the solar plexus sent Pimblett crashing down. He bounced back fast, hammering Gaethje with leg kicks and knees, but it felt like he didn’t really learn much from that scare. The whole thing was more mayhem than mastery.

When the second round started, Pimblett didn't adjust his approach much. He kept trading punches up close with little head movement. Gaethje took advantage of Pimblett's weak defence, finishing the round strong with some nasty elbows. An ignored eye poke on Pimblett by the referee didn't help, but Pimblett kept refusing to change his game plan.

Pimblett's refusal to grapple confused people. Gaethje was the only one getting takedowns, while Pimblett seemed determined to stay on his feet and strike.

Even Dana White questioned Pimblett's stubbornness. White said that it's admirable to be confident in your toughness, but at some point, you have to adapt if things aren't working; maybe try a takedown and submission.

Gaethje won, but the crowd seemed confused. It didn't feel like a well-deserved victory. Josh Barnett even said it felt like a prelim fight. It looks like it's not just the fighters who are raising an eyebrow at the match.

The fight was entertaining but not great.

For an interim title bout, the fight didn't seem very skilled. Both fighters just swung wildly, hoping for a lucky shot. Fans online were quick to point this out, wondering if the fighters lacked skills for the UFC's highest level.

One user wrote that the main event seemed low-level. Others agreed, saying it was entertaining but not very skilled. One said that it looked like a 2006 fight.

However, one fan said that the fight delivered what most fans wanted. “It was sloppy for sure, but the fan base doesn't care about technical skill. They want action.”

Another user preferred the striking battle to a grappling-heavy fight. “I'd rather watch that than people wrestling on the ground for 25 minutes without even trying to submit their opponent. This goes to every fighter and every nationality.

UFC 324's main event won't be remembered for elite skills. It'll be more of a reminder that chaos can be entertaining. But it doesn't usually lead to true championship excellence. Did the fight deliver what you wanted, or should an interim title bout require more than just heart and toughness? Let us know what you think.

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES TRADE JAREN JACKSON JR. TO UTAH JAZZ IN 8-PLAYER BLOCKBUSTER

The Memphis Grizzlies have traded Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz, creating a record $28.8 million trade exception for 2026.

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Grizzlies finalise Jaren Jackson Jr. deal

The Memphis Grizzlies turned heads on Tuesday, pulling off a blockbuster trade that sent two-time All-Star and former Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr to the Utah Jazz. Along with Jackson, the Grizzlies shipped out Vince Williams Jr, John Konchar, and Jock Landale. Coming back their way: Walter Clayton Jr, Kyle Anderson, Georges Niang, and, maybe the most important part, three future first-round picks.

And honestly, it feels like Memphis isn’t done stirring the pot. Inside the organisation, they see Zach Edey and Cedric Coward as the future. Both went late in the lottery in the past two drafts, and the Grizzlies landed some value in the second round this year, too, grabbing Jaylen Wells and Cam Spencer.

All this movement means Ja Morant’s future in Memphis suddenly looks shaky. He’s been the face of the franchise since they took him No. 2 overall back in 2019. When he’s healthy, he’s electric—no question. But injuries and off-court drama have slowed him down, and now, with the trade deadline closing in, the Grizzlies are openly shopping him. Teams around the league are watching.

There’s another wrinkle here: by dealing Jackson, Memphis created a massive trade exception—$28.8 million, the biggest in NBA history, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks and Shams Charania. It’s a huge chess piece. With that exception, the Grizzlies can absorb big, ugly contracts from other teams in exchange for more draft picks. Think of what the Thunder did a few years back—stockpiling picks by taking on bad deals until they rebuilt into a contender.

Now, you’ve probably heard Giannis Antetokounmpo’s name floating around in trade rumours. He hasn’t officially asked out of Milwaukee, but everyone in the league expects something to happen soon. Teams like the Timberwolves and Knicks are circling. The Grizzlies? They’re not likely to chase Giannis directly. But with that trade exception, they could play a big role as a third team—taking on salary dumps or unwanted contracts, collecting more picks, and helping another franchise pull off the Giannis blockbuster. Memphis just put itself squarely in the middle of the NBA’s hottest rumour.

KLINT KUBIAK SNUBS NFL RIVALS TO LEAD RAIDERS’ NEW ERA UNDER TOM BRADY

The Las Vegas Raiders are zeroing in on Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak as their next head coach, with Tom Brady leading the search.

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Klint Kubiak is set for the Raiders as Seahawks coach faces the New England Patriots

The Las Vegas Raiders are in the middle of a huge shakeup right now. Klint Kubiak, the offensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks, is set to become their new head coach—and honestly, he’s nothing like Pete Carroll.

Kubiak’s still in his 30s, calling plays on offence, while Carroll just wrapped up last season as the NFL’s oldest head coach. The Raiders had their eyes on Ben Johnson previous year, but when he decided to take the Bears job, they turned to Carroll instead.

This time, Las Vegas seemed to have that same level of interest in Kubiak, but they had to wait things out because Seattle was still in the playoffs. Tom Brady, who’s a minority owner with the Raiders, clearly played a big part in picking the new coach.

Since nothing’s official until after the Super Bowl, Brady can’t come right out and talk about Kubiak joining the team. Still, he didn’t hold back when it came to sharing what he liked about the guy.

“Klint’s played to his team’s strengths. Last week, he did a ton of good things against a really strong Rams defence,” Brady said on the “Let’s Go!” podcast. “That’s what it took for them to win. The Rams are a tough team. That game in Seattle could’ve gone either way... Seattle really had to play a complete game in all three phases to pull it out, and they’ll need to do the same this weekend in Santa Clara.”

Brady also talked about Fernando Mendoza.

Another big reason the Raiders’ coaching job is so appealing? They’ve got the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Everyone expects them to grab Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza.

Brady doesn’t have to be secretive about it—nobody’s jumping ahead of them in the draft. He was pretty open about how much he likes Mendoza.

“What do I value most? When I see him, he’s always talking up his teammates. He wins the Heisman, and he’s giving credit to everyone else,” Brady said. “That’s the kind of attitude you want in a leader.”

Kubiak focused on the Super Bowl, not the job switch.

Kubiak’s career is about to take off, but right now, he’s locked in on trying to win his first Super Bowl. So, he isn’t ready to talk about the Raiders just yet.

“I’m coaching the Seahawks in the Super Bowl, and that’s all I’m thinking about,” Kubiak told reporters on Monday. “I’m just excited for this week and this game.”

Not everyone in Seattle is thrilled to see Kubiak go. Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold had nothing but praise after working with him this year.

“He was unbelievable,” Darnold said Monday. “The stuff I picked up from Klint—just with schemes, and then learning from him as a coach and a person—the grit. He’s up before the sun, gets to the facility at 4 or 4:30, and leaves later than anyone. The guy just grinds. He loves football, and he’s always straight with his players. I know I really appreciated that, and so did the rest of the guys.”

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