Ilia Topuria faces criticism for mid-fight surrender at UFC event
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 30, 2026, 6:23 PM
Last updated Jun 30, 2026
Ilia Topuria has drawn criticism for his decision to stop fighting against Justin Gaethje at a recent UFC event held at the White House. After sustaining significant damage, Topuria did not protest his corner's call to halt the fight after the fourth round. This tactic has led to accusations of 'quitting on the stool,' a phrase with negative connotations in fight sports. Despite not requesting to stop, Topuria's acceptance of the stoppage has raised debate around the stigma associated with mid-fight surrenders. The UFC even auctioned off the stool used by Topuria during the bout as a collector's item, underscoring the weight of this controversy.
- •Topuria faced Gaethje at the White House UFC event this month.
- •He stopped fighting after the fourth round due to injury.
- •Topuria did not request to quit but accepted his corner's call.
- •The UFC auctioned the stool he used during the fight as memorabilia.
- •Gaethje claimed Topuria 'quit on the stool' in a post-fight interview.
- 6:23 PMYahoo Sports — Why 'quitting on the stool' still carries an enduring stigma — even if not all mid-fight surrenders are the same
"Former UFC champion Ilia Topuria continues to be criticized for "quitting on the stool" against Justin Gaethje, but there are many shades of gray with this particular unforgivable sin of fight sports.
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