Apr 12, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; UFC fighter Charles Oliveira during ceremonial weigh ins for UFC 300 at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

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Charles Oliveira Gives His Take On The Upcoming UFC 324 Fight Between Justin Gaethje And Paddy Pimblett

Apr 12, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; UFC fighter Charles Oliveira during ceremonial weigh ins for UFC 300 at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Fighters who have solved an opponent’s puzzle understand their strengths and weaknesses better than casual observers. They have felt the power, tested the cardio, and identified the exploitable holes that casual fans miss. That inside knowledge makes their predictions particularly interesting. And Charles Oliveira is one of them when he talks about Justin Gaethje.

Oliveira submitted Gaethje in the first round of their UFC 274 meeting for the vacant lightweight championship back in 2022. That dominant performance showed Oliveira could stand and strike with one of the most dangerous brawlers in the division and still emerge victorious. Now he has given his take on the upcoming UFC 324 fight between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett, breaking down the stylistic matchup and revealing which approach gives the British fighter his best chance at pulling off a career-defining upset.

Charles Oliveira Gives His Take On UFC 324 Main Event

Oliveira provided his analysis during an interview with Olhar da Luta, focusing on the contrasting styles that make this fight so fascinating. He noted that Pimblett strikes well on his feet, can take the fight to the ground, and is constantly moving. That movement and versatility gives Pimblett options that pure strikers don’t possess when facing someone as dangerous as Gaethje.

On the other hand, Oliveira acknowledged that Gaethje is a very tough fighter with insane striking ability. But he has some flaws on the ground. Oliveira knows this firsthand after exploiting those weaknesses to secure a first-round submission. That grappling vulnerability represents Pimblett’s clearest path to victory and possibly becoming interim lightweight champion.

“He [Pimblett] strikes well on his feet, can take the fight to the ground, and is constantly moving,” Oliveira said, translated via Google. “On the other hand, we know that Justin Gaethje is a very tough fighter with insane striking, but he has some flaws on the ground.”

Oliveira predicted that Pimblett won’t want to exchange blows with Gaethje, probably trying to take the fight to the ground instead. If Pimblett decides to exchange strikes, he could get knocked out. But if Pimblett bets on takedowns and grappling, he has a legitimate chance to become champion.

Interestingly, Oliveira admitted he would really like Gaethje to come out victorious despite laying out how Pimblett could win. That personal preference might stem from their UFC 2022 battle creating mutual respect between warriors. Or maybe Oliveira simply prefers facing Gaethje again over Pimblett in a potential future matchup.

(Image Credit: Mark J. Rebilas – Imagn Images)

Charles Oliveira

Justin Gaethje

Paddy Pimblett

UFC 324

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!