Update: Woman refutes claim that Paddy Pimblett bought Ilia Topuria’s stool

Paddy Pimblett's rivalry with Ilia Topuria took an unusual turn when the English lightweight claimed to have purchased the corner stool used by Topuria during his knockout loss to Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250 at the White House. Pimblett posted the acquisition on Instagram with the caption "Collector's item," seemingly referencing his long-standing narrative that Topuria quit during the fight.

Topuria, a heavy favorite entering the bout, suffered a brutal fourth-round corner stoppage after Gaethje's dominant third and fourth-round assault. Pimblett, who competed against Gaethje earlier in the year and lasted all five rounds before losing on points, has repeatedly used Topuria's corner stoppage as ammunition in their heated feud—which traces back to Pimblett's comments about Georgia and escalated when he threw hand sanitizer at Topuria at a fighter hotel in London in 2022.

However, Pimblett's ownership claim appears false. A woman who identified herself as a Topuria fan took to social media to reveal that she was the one who actually purchased the stool at auction, directly contradicting Pimblett's assertion. The revelation undercuts what had appeared to be another chapter in their contentious rivalry, reducing Pimblett's trophy claim to a fabrication and adding another layer to their ongoing antagonism.