Paddy Pimblett purchased the corner stool on which Ilia Topuria retired from his fight against Justin Gaethje, paying $13,700 at auction. Pimblett posted a photo with the stool alongside news of the purchase, delivering a pointed troll aimed at the former featherweight champion.
Paddy Pimblett made his feelings about Ilia Topuria perfectly clear on July 20, spending $13,700 at auction to acquire the corner stool on which Topuria retired from his lightweight fight against Justin Gaethje. Pimblett posted a photo alongside the stool, turning the purchase into a very public and pointed dig at the former featherweight champion.
Pimblett, 31, represents England and trains out of Next Generation MMA Liverpool. Ranked sixth in the lightweight division with a 24-4 record, "The Baddy" is one of the more colorful personalities in the sport, and his willingness to spend five figures on a piece of fight memorabilia purely for trolling purposes fits his established character. He lands 5.48 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy and attempts 1.4 submissions per 15 minutes, making him a legitimate lightweight threat alongside his outsized social media presence.
Topuria, 29, entered lightweight competition as one of the most decorated fighters on the roster. The Spanish-Georgian standout carries a 17-1 record and holds the number-one pound-for-pound ranking as well as the number-two ranking in the lightweight division. Standing five-foot-seven with a 69-inch reach, "El Matador" had built his reputation as a finisher and a rising force before the Gaethje bout ended with his retirement from the stool.
Gaethje, 37, is the reigning lightweight champion with a 28-5 record. Fighting out of Genesis Training Center, "The Highlight" leads all three verified fighters in significant strikes landed per minute at 6.48, with a striking accuracy of 58 percent that underscores why surviving his pressure is no small feat.
Why it matters
- Pimblett and Topuria are both ranked in the same lightweight division, giving the rivalry genuine competitive context beyond social media antics.
- The stunt keeps pressure on Topuria's public image following the retirement, amplifying scrutiny at a delicate moment in his career.
- At sixth in the rankings, Pimblett has reasons beyond trolling to keep Topuria's name in conversation as he chases higher-ranked opponents.
