Makhachev and Topuria dispute who refused White House fight

Ilia Topuria claims he knew he would fight Islam Makhachev at the White House event, but hours before the announcement was told Makhachev was injured and he would face Justin Gaethje instead. Islam Makhachev responded that he agreed to the fight but was told the next day that Topuria requested a huge fee and was denied. Makhachev stated that even Topuria's manager confirmed this version and that Topuria is lying. The exchange occurred on social media with a fan noting Makhachev was posting at 4 AM, to which Islam replied "Today it's not him," suggesting manager Ali Abdelaziz typically handles his account. Jorge Masvidal and Orion Cosce both picked Sean Strickland to defeat Khamzat Chimaev, with Masvidal calling Chimaev's style "sitting and smelling crotches." Dricus Du Plessis named Israel Adesanya as the most technical opponent he's faced and Sean Strickland and Brad Tavares as the hardest hitters, notably excluding Chimaev because he doesn't consider their brief encounter a real fight.