Topuria and Makhachev dispute details of cancelled White House fight

Ilia Topuria claims he was informed hours before the White House event announcement that he would fight Islam Makhachev, only to be told Makhachev sustained an injury and he would face Justin Gaethje instead. Islam Makhachev countered these claims, stating he agreed to the White House fight but was told Topuria requested an enormous purse and was denied, leading to the bout falling through. Makhachev posted a late-night response addressing what he called fabrications from Topuria and his team, with fans joking about his manager Ali Abdelaziz's typical posting habits. Meanwhile, Jorge Masvidal and Orion Cosce backed Sean Strickland against Khamzat Chimaev, with Masvidal calling Chimaev's style "sitting and smelling crotches." Dricus Du Plessis named Israel Adesanya as his most technical opponent, while noting Sean Strickland and Brad Tavares as his toughest, conspicuously omitting Chimaev because he doesn't consider their brief encounter a real fight.