Ilia Topuria claimed he was informed hours before the White House fight card announcement that he would face Islam Makhachev, only to be told shortly before the official reveal that Makhachev was injured and he would fight Justin Gaethje instead. Topuria questioned why Makhachev does not want to fight him. Makhachev responded by saying he is tired of Topuria's fabrications, stating that he agreed to the White House fight but was told the next day that Topuria demanded a huge fee and was turned down. Makhachev accused Topuria of refusing the fight and lying about it. In the comments, a fan told Makhachev it was 4 a.m. and he should go to sleep, to which Makhachev replied that it was not him posting at that hour.
A public dispute has broken out between Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria over who turned down a potential superfight at the White House card, with both fighters pointing the finger at the other through social media posts.
Topuria, ranked number one pound-for-pound and number two in the lightweight division at 17-1-0, claimed he was informed just hours before the White House fight card announcement that he would face Makhachev, only to be told shortly before the official reveal that the champion was injured and the bout would instead be against Justin Gaethje. The 29-year-old Spaniard, known as El Matador, publicly questioned why Makhachev was unwilling to share the cage with him. Topuria averages an impressive 4.81 significant strikes per minute and has built a reputation as one of the sport's most dangerous finishers.
Makhachev fired back sharply, calling Topuria's account a fabrication. The 34-year-old Russian, who holds a 28-1-0 record and currently holds welterweight gold, said he had agreed to the White House fight but was subsequently told that Topuria had demanded an outsized purse and the negotiation collapsed as a result. Makhachev accused Topuria of refusing the fight himself and then misrepresenting the situation publicly. The lightweight turned welterweight champion averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands strikes at a 58 percent accuracy rate, reflecting a methodical, pressure-based style that contrasts sharply with Topuria's volume output.
The exchange took on a lighter note when a fan in the comments told Makhachev it was four in the morning and he should go to sleep, prompting the champion to clarify that the posts were not going up at that hour on his end.
Why it matters
- Both fighters are among the sport's elite, with Topuria ranked first pound-for-pound and Makhachev a reigning champion, making any future matchup a genuine superfight
- The competing accounts of who rejected whom could shape how any eventual negotiation is framed publicly
- Topuria will instead face BMF champion Justin Gaethje, who carries a 28-5-0 record and a jaw-dropping 6.48 significant strikes per minute
