Ilia Topuria claims he was promised a bout with Islam Makhachev at the White House event but was told hours before the announcement that Makhachev was injured and he would face Gaethje instead. 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 insists Topuria rejected the fight, and even Topuria's manager allegedly confirmed this version. Meanwhile, Jorge Masvidal and Chase Pfeiffer backed Sean Strickland over Khamzat Chimaev, with Masvidal calling Chimaev's style 'sitting and smelling crotches.'
