Ilia Topuria claims he was originally scheduled to fight Islam Makhachev at the White House event but was told hours before the announcement that Makhachev was injured, leading to a matchup with Justin Gaethje instead. Islam Makhachev counters that he accepted the fight when offered but was told the next day that Topuria requested an excessive purse and was denied. Makhachev stated that even Topuria's manager confirmed this version of events and accused the featherweight champion of lying. In a related comment, Jorge Masvidal and Orion Cosce picked Sean Strickland in his upcoming fight against Khamzat Chimaev, with Masvidal criticizing Chimaev's wrestling-heavy style. The post also notes that fighters on the UFC 327 card have earned 92 combined bonuses, suggesting an entertaining event ahead.
Saturday, April 11, 2026
