Ilia Topuria claims he was told hours before the White House event announcement that he would fight Islam Makhachev, only to receive a call saying Makhachev was injured and he would face Justin Gaethje instead. Topuria expressed confusion about why Makhachev doesn't want to fight him. In response, Islam Makhachev stated he accepted the White House fight when offered, but was told the next day that Topuria requested a huge fee and was denied. Makhachev challenged Topuria to stop lying, noting that even Topuria's manager confirmed this version. The exchange also included comments from Jorge Masvidal and Orion Cosce backing Sean Strickland against Khamzat Chimaev, with Masvidal criticizing Chimaev's style. Additionally, 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 encounter a real fight.
