Ilia Topuria claimed he was told hours before the White House event card announcement that he would fight Islam Makhachev, but Makhachev withdrew due to injury and Topuria was matched with Gaethje instead. Islam Makhachev countered these claims, stating he agreed to the White House bout but was told the next day that Topuria requested an enormous purse and was declined. Makhachev accused Topuria of lying and noted that even Topuria's manager confirmed the financial dispute. The post also mentions that Jorge Masvidal and Orion Cosce picked Sean Strickland over Khamzat Chimaev, and that Dricus Du Plessis named Israel Adesanya as his most technical opponent while not considering his fight with Chimaev a real bout.
