Ilia Topuria claimed he went to sleep expecting a fight with Islam Makhachev at the White House event, but was told hours before the announcement that Makhachev was injured and he would fight Justin Gaethje instead. Topuria questioned why Makhachev doesn't want to fight him. Islam Makhachev responded that he accepted the White House bout, but was told the next day that Topuria requested a huge purse and was denied. Makhachev called Topuria's claims lies and said even Topuria's manager confirmed the money story. In separate news, Jorge Masvidal and Orion Cosce picked Sean Strickland to beat Khamzat Chimaev, with Masvidal calling Chimaev's style "sitting and sniffing crotches."
