He threw the fight before the Feather Duster honestly, when he used that Forbidden Droplet on the Ignoble. By reducing the attack, he prevented an OTK scenario, because with the original attack he would have been able to reach the 8K attack (1000-2600, then 2000-2600, then 4000-2600=1400 + 8000 for next attack is guaranteed OTK). Unless some effect would have prevented this, but checking Ignoble's effects and the equip cards there's nothing that can cause this.
