‘It Was Me, Not Paddy’ – Ilia Topuria Fan Shuts Down Paddy Pimblett’s UFC Stool Claim

After experiencing the toughest night of his professional career, Ilia Topuria has spent the past month in recovery. His first defeat inside the Octagon, a fourth-round stoppage loss to Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250, left him with serious facial injuries and plenty of critics eager to pile on.

Few have enjoyed the moment more than longtime rival Paddy Pimblett, who recently claimed he had purchased the red corner stool Topuria sat on before the bout was waved off. But what looked like another chapter in their bitter feud has now taken an unexpected twist after a fan stepped forward, insisting the prized piece of UFC memorabilia belongs to her instead.

Ilia Topuria Fan Dismantles Paddy’s Claim

Just days after Pimblett's social media post went viral, an Ilia Topuria supporter named Jessica uploaded a video claiming she was the real buyer of the infamous red stool from UFC Freedom 250.

In the clip, Jessica introduced herself and displayed what appeared to be her purchase confirmation from the UFC Shop app before making her case.

"I am Jessica, I am the one who purchased the red stool from Freedom 250." She then directly addressed Pimblett's claim along with the necessary aides to substantiate her claims, stating, "I bought it, not Paddy. I'm a big Ilia fan. I purchased it on purpose so Paddy or anybody else couldn't buy it and use it against him, but here we are."

Her explanation added a different layer to the story. Rather than viewing the stool as a collector's item or a chance to troll the former lightweight champion, Jessica said she intentionally wanted to keep it out of the hands of Topuria's rivals.

Topuria's Red Stool Contentious Topic

The stool has become an unusual talking point because it represents one of the most difficult moments of the 29-year-old’s career. After absorbing massive punishment from Gaethje in the UFC Freedom 250 main event, the Spaniard returned to his corner with a severely swollen face and reportedly unable to see clearly. 

Subsequently, the fight was stopped before the fifth round, handing “The Highlight” a TKO victory, thus ending Topuria's unbeaten UFC run.

Whether Jessica's video finally settles the ownership debate remains to be seen. But it has undoubtedly cast doubt over Pimblett's boast, leaving fans wondering who really owns one of the UFC's most talked-about pieces of souvenir.

Paddy Pimblett’s Earlier Claim

The controversy began earlier this week when Pimblett proudly posted a photo alongside a red UFC stool, claiming he had purchased the very one the Georgian-born-Spaniard used during his loss to Gaethje.

According to the auction listing, the stool sold for $13,700 after UFC Collectibles offered it as an official fight-used item from Freedom 250. Pimblett accompanied his post with the caption, "Collector's item," another thinly veiled jab at a rival he has spent years targeting.

The latest exchange is hardly surprising given the history between the two lightweights. For the unversed, their rivalry stretches back to a heated confrontation at a London hotel ahead of UFC London in 2022, where a backstage altercation nearly turned physical. 

Could a Topuria vs. Pimblett Fight Be Next? 

Since then, both have climbed the ranks in different weight classes, with Topuria capturing UFC gold at featherweight before moving to lightweight, while “The Baddy” steadily established himself as a strong contender at 155 pounds.

Now, their paths appear closer than ever. Topuria's loss to Gaethje and the Brit’s emphatic 52-second submission victory over Benoit Saint-Denis have narrowed the gap in the lightweight rankings, making a long-awaited showdown feel more realistic than ever.