Topuria says Makhachev fight was hours from being announced before injury

Ilia Topuria revealed that his fight with Islam Makhachev at the White House event was extremely close to being officially announced. According to Topuria, he knew just a couple of hours before the card announcement that he would be fighting Makhachev and that the bout would be revealed. However, he then received a call informing him that Islam had sustained an injury and he would instead face Justin Gaethje. Topuria stated he went to sleep expecting to fight Makhachev, only to be woken by numerous phone calls about the change. Despite the setback, Topuria expressed that he is not disappointed and believes the fight should happen eventually.