Topuria and Makhachev dispute who rejected White House fight

Ilia Topuria claimed 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 stated he went to sleep knowing the Makhachev fight was set but received a last-minute call changing his opponent. Islam Makhachev denied the claims, stating he accepted the White House fight but was told Topuria demanded an enormous purse and was rejected. Makhachev insisted Topuria turned down the fight and accused him of lying. Jorge Masvidal and Orion Cosce both picked Sean Strickland to defeat Khamzat Chimaev, with Masvidal dismissing Chimaev's style. Dricus Du Plessis named Israel Adesanya as his most technical opponent and Sean Strickland and Brad Tavares as his toughest, notably excluding Chimaev because he doesn't consider their brief encounter a real fight.