Ilia Topuria claimed he was initially told he would fight Islam Makhachev at the White House event, but hours before the announcement, he was informed that Makhachev had suffered an injury and he would face Justin Gaethje instead. Topuria expressed confusion over why Makhachev doesn't want to fight him. Makhachev responded by stating he agreed to the White House bout when offered, but was then told Topuria requested an enormous purse and was refused. Makhachev accused Topuria of lying, noting even Topuria's manager confirmed the story. The exchange has intensified the rivalry between the two champions.
A public dispute has broken out between two of the UFC's most prominent champions after conflicting accounts emerged over what derailed a potential superfight at the White House event.
Ilia Topuria, who carries a 17-1 record and holds the number-one spot in the pound-for-pound rankings at just 29 years old, says he was originally told he would fight Islam Makhachev at the White House card. Hours before the official announcement, he claims he was informed that Makhachev had suffered an injury and that Justin Gaethje would step in as his opponent instead. The Spanish-Georgian fighter, known as El Matador, said he could not understand why Makhachev was unwilling to fight him.
Makhachev pushed back sharply. The 34-year-old Russian welterweight champion, now 28-1, says he agreed to the White House bout when it was first presented to him, only to be told that Topuria demanded an enormous purse and was turned down. Makhachev accused Topuria of lying and pointed out that even Topuria's own manager had confirmed a version of events that contradicted his fighter's account.
The replacement opponent, Gaethje, is himself a UFC lightweight champion with a 28-5 record. The 37-year-old American is one of the most relentless volume strikers in the division, averaging 6.48 significant strikes landed per minute.
Why it matters
- Makhachev and Topuria are the two most dominant champions in adjacent weight classes, making any future crossover fight one of the most anticipated bouts in the sport.
- The conflicting stories have added genuine personal animosity to what was already a high-profile rivalry, potentially accelerating a future booking.
- Topuria's next contest against Gaethje now carries added narrative weight, as a commanding performance could increase pressure on the UFC to make the Makhachev superfight a reality.
