Topuria and Makhachev clash over White House event fight pullout

Ilia Topuria claims he was scheduled to fight Islam Makhachev at the White House event but was told hours before the announcement that Makhachev was injured and he would face Justin Gaethje instead. Topuria questioned why Makhachev does not want to fight him. Makhachev responded by saying Topuria's team requested a huge purse and were denied, calling Topuria's version a lie. Makhachev insisted he agreed to the fight but Topuria's financial demands led to the fight falling through. Jorge Masvidal and Orion Cosce have both picked Sean Strickland over Khamzat Chimaev, with Masvidal criticizing Chimaev's wrestling-heavy style. Dricus Du Plessis stated that Israel Adesanya was his most technical opponent, while Sean Strickland and Brad Tavares were his toughest, with Chimaev not making the list because Du Plessis does not consider their brief encounter a real fight.