Topuria and Makhachev exchange claims over who declined White House fight

A public dispute continues between Ilia Topuria and Islam Makhachev regarding a proposed fight at a White House event. Topuria claims he went to sleep knowing he would fight Makhachev, but hours before the announcement was told Makhachev had suffered an injury and he would fight Gaethje instead. Makhachev counters that he agreed to the fight but Topuria requested an excessively large purse and was denied, claiming even Topuria's manager confirmed this version. The exchange also included a late-night comment from Makhachev clarifying someone else was using his account. Additionally, Jorge Masvidal and Orion Cosce picked Sean Strickland over Khamzat Chimaev, and Dricus Du Plessis named Israel Adesanya as his most technical opponent and Sean Strickland as his toughest.