SerpApi.Org
Paddy Pimblett found a creative way to remind Ilia Topuria that he is no longer champion.
Days after submitting Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC 329 and re-establishing himself in the lightweight title conversation, Pimblett spent $14,000 on what he described simply as a "collector's item" — an item connected to Topuria's time as champion, purchased in the immediate aftermath of his loss to Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250.
The feud began in 2022 at UFC London, when Pimblett made comments on social media targeting Georgian people and Topuria responded by assaulting him in a fighter hotel altercation. The incident set a tone that has not softened in the years since — the two have traded barbs consistently, and the mutual animosity is genuine rather than promotional.
Topuria lost the undisputed lightweight title to Gaethje at the White House event in June in one of the sport's most significant upsets. After a strong opening, Topuria's face was badly damaged as the fight progressed, and his team eventually waved off the contest. Gaethje has since indicated his next fight will be against Arman Tsarukyan rather than an immediate Topuria rematch, which leaves the former champion waiting for a path back to contention.
Pimblett, meanwhile, is moving in the opposite direction. The submission of Saint-Denis in under a minute at UFC 329 — one of the most complete performances of his UFC career — put him back in the title mix. Topuria has not responded to the post as of this writing. Given the nature of their relationship, the silence is unlikely to last.
