Ilia Topuria claimed he was informed just hours before the White House event announcement that he would fight Islam Makhachev, but Makhachev then pulled out due to injury and Topuria was rebooked against Justin Gaethje. Islam Makhachev responded by stating that Topuria's team is lying, insisting he agreed to the White House bout but was told the next day that Topuria requested a huge purse and was denied. Makhachev emphasized that Topuria himself declined the fight and that even Topuria's manager confirmed this version of events. Meanwhile, Jorge Masvidal and Orion Cosce picked Sean Strickland over Khamzat Chimaev, with Masvidal dismissing Chimaev's style as "sitting and sniffing crotches." Dricus du Plessis said Israel Adesanya was his most technical opponent and Sean Strickland and Brad Tavares were his toughest, not even considering his brief encounter with Chimaev a real fight.
