Ilia Topuria claimed he was told he would fight Islam Makhachev at the White House event, but hours before the announcement, he was informed Makhachev was injured and he would face Justin Gaethje instead. Topuria questioned why Makhachev doesn't want to fight him. Makhachev responded that he accepted the White House fight offer, but was told the next day that Topuria requested a huge fee and was denied. Makhachev stated that Topuria refused the fight and is now lying about what happened. Jorge Masvidal and Orion Cosce have both picked Sean Strickland to beat Khamzat Chimaev, with Masvidal calling Chimaev's style "sitting and smelling crotches." Dricus Du Plessis said Israel Adesanya was his most technical opponent, while Strickland and Tavarес were the toughest, not counting Chimaev because he doesn't consider their meeting a real fight.
