Paddy Pimblett has found a unique way to keep his rivalry with Ilia Topuria alive after spending $13,700 on the stool Topuria used during his loss to Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250. The purchase has quickly become one of the most talked about stories in the MMA world, with the Liverpool native once again taking aim at his longtime rival following Topuria’s first professional defeat.
Pimblett revealed the purchase through a social media post, posing with the red corner stool and captioning it simply, “Collector’s item.” The stool was auctioned through UFC Collectibles and attracted significant attention before closing at a final bid of $13,700.
A rivalry that refuses to fade
The tension between Pimblett and Topuria has stretched back several years. Although the pair have never shared the Octagon, they have exchanged verbal shots on numerous occasions and were previously linked to a lightweight title fight.
Their rivalry intensified after UFC Freedom 250, where Justin Gaethje handed Topuria the first loss of his career. The former lightweight champion was unable to continue after four rounds, with his corner deciding to stop the contest before the fifth round began.
Pimblett immediately criticized the outcome and insisted that Topuria had quit on the stool rather than continue fighting.
Since then, the English lightweight has repeatedly referenced the defeat, making it clear he has no intention of letting the moment fade away.
The expensive collector’s item
Instead of simply talking about the fight, Pimblett decided to own a piece of it.
The stool used by Topuria during the White House event became available through an official UFC auction. After attracting plenty of interest, the item sold for $13,700, with Pimblett emerging as the winning bidder.
His Instagram post showing the stool quickly drew attention across the MMA community, with the purchase serving as another reminder of the bitter relationship between the two lightweights.
Meanwhile, UFC Collectibles continues to auction memorabilia from the White House event. Among the remaining items is the red corner stool used by Conor McGregor after his fight ended because of injury.
Paddy Pimblett riding career best momentum
The purchase comes during one of the strongest runs of Pimblett’s UFC career.
Earlier this month, “The Baddy” submitted Benoit Saint Denis in under one minute at UFC 329, delivering the biggest victory of his professional career. The impressive finish strengthened his position in the lightweight division and added to the confidence he has shown in recent weeks.
Pimblett also appears to have gained fresh perspective on his own loss to Justin Gaethje earlier this year. While he dropped a decision against the former interim champion in January, Topuria was stopped by his corner against the same opponent, something Pimblett has frequently highlighted.
Topuria remains out of the spotlight
Topuria has largely stayed away from public attention since surrendering his lightweight title. Apart from videos showing him celebrating Spain’s FIFA World Cup triumph, the Georgian Spanish star has avoided engaging in the back and forth with Pimblett.
Despite the silence, the rivalry remains one of the UFC’s most intriguing unresolved storylines. The two have been linked to each other for years, but the matchup has yet to materialize inside the Octagon.
Could the rivalry finally lead to a fight?
Paddy Pimblett is expected to return later this year, although the UFC has not announced his next opponent. Topuria is also expected to compete again after recovering from his loss to Gaethje.
For now, the rivalry continues outside the cage.
Paddy Pimblett’s decision to spend nearly $14,000 on a stool from Topuria’s first UFC defeat may not move him closer to a title shot, but it certainly ensures their feud remains in the spotlight. Whether the purchase eventually leads to the long awaited showdown between the two rivals remains to be seen, but it has undoubtedly added another memorable chapter to one of the UFC’s most personal rivalries.
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