Ilia Topuria claimed he was told he would fight Islam Makhachev at the White House event, but hours before the announcement, he was informed Makhachev was injured and he would face Justin Gaethje instead. Topuria questioned why Makhachev doesn't want to fight him. Makhachev fired back, saying he agreed to the White House fight but was told Topuria requested a massive fee and was denied. Makhachev insisted Topuria refused the fight and accused him of lying. The exchange also included Jorge Masvidal and Orion Cosce picking Sean Strickland to beat Khamzat Chimaev, with Masvidal calling Chimaev's style "sitting and smelling crotches." Dricus du Plessis said Israel Adesanya was his most technical opponent, while Strickland and Tavares were the toughest, notably excluding Chimaev because he doesn't consider their brief encounter a real fight.
