Topuria and Makhachev dispute who turned down White House superfight

Ilia Topuria claims he was informed hours before the White House card announcement that his fight with Islam Makhachev was scheduled, but Makhachev allegedly pulled out with an injury, leading to Topuria facing Justin Gaethje instead. Islam Makhachev responded by saying he accepted the White House fight but was told the next day that Topuria requested an enormous fee and was denied, with Topuria's own manager allegedly confirming this version. Makhachev accused Topuria and his team of lying, stating it was Topuria who refused the fight. In a separate note, 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 his most technical opponent and Sean Strickland and Brad Tavares as his toughest, notably excluding Chimaev because their brief encounter didn't qualify as a real fight in his view.