Paddy Pimblett spent $13,700 to own a piece of Ilia Topuria’s loss

Paddy Pimblett has escalated his long-running rivalry with Ilia Topuria by purchasing the corner stool used by the former UFC lightweight champion during his loss to Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250, reportedly spending $13,700 on the item. Pimblett revealed the acquisition on Instagram with the caption "Collector's item," turning a piece of fight memorabilia into a fresh jab at his rival.

Topuria entered the White House bout as a heavy favorite, defending his lightweight title against interim champion Gaethje. However, Gaethje overwhelmed the Georgian-Spaniard with a brutal assault in the third and fourth rounds, prompting the corner to halt the fight at the end of the fourth frame. Pimblett has consistently claimed that Topuria quit on the stool rather than continuing, and the Englishman's purchase appears designed to immortalise that narrative.

The two fighters' feud dates back years, originally ignited by Pimblett's controversial comments about Georgia. Their animosity boiled over in 2022 when Pimblett threw a bottle of hand sanitizer at Topuria during an encounter at a fighter hotel in London. Notably, Pimblett himself faced Gaethje earlier this year and went the full five rounds, losing a decision but earning widespread praise for his durability and fighting spirit—a contrast he has leveraged in his criticism of Topuria's performance.

With this acquisition, Pimblett has transformed a piece of fight furniture into a symbolic trophy, cementing his psychological warfare against a rival who once seemed untouchable atop the lightweight division. The $13,700 stool now sits as a reminder of Topuria's first UFC loss and Pimblett's relentless willingness to keep their rivalry alive through creative and unconventional means.