Topuria and Makhachev dispute White House event fight negotiations

Ilia Topuria claimed he was informed hours before the White House event announcement that he would fight Islam Makhachev, but was told Makhachev got injured and he would face Justin Gaethje instead. Topuria questioned why Makhachev doesn't want to fight him. Islam Makhachev responded that he agreed to the White House fight when offered, but was told the next day that Topuria requested a huge fee and was denied, accusing Topuria of lying about refusing the bout. Jorge Masvidal and Orion Cosce backed Sean Strickland against Khamzat Chimaev, with Masvidal criticizing Chimaev's fighting style. Dricus du Plessis named Israel Adesanya as his most technical opponent and Sean Strickland and Brad Tavares as his toughest, notably not mentioning Chimaev because he doesn't consider their encounter a real fight.