Topuria and Makhachev dispute who pulled out of White House fight

Ilia Topuria claimed he was told hours before the White House card announcement that he would fight Islam Makhachev, but was then informed Makhachev got injured and he would face Gaethje instead. Topuria says he doesn't know why Makhachev doesn't want to fight him. Makhachev countered that he agreed to the White House fight when offered, but was told the next day that Topuria requested a huge fee and was denied. Makhachev stated that Topuria refused the fight and his manager confirmed this. Meanwhile, Jorge Masvidal and Orion Cosce both picked Sean Strickland to beat Khamzat Chimaev, with Masvidal calling Chimaev's style "sitting and sniffing crotches." Dricus du Plessis said Israel Adesanya was his most technical opponent while Strickland and Tavares were the hardest hitters, notably excluding Chimaev because he doesn't consider their meeting a real fight.