Topuria claims Makhachev pulled out of White House event bout hours before announcement

Ilia Topuria stated that just hours before the full card announcement at the White House event, he was informed he would fight Islam Makhachev. However, shortly before the public announcement, Topuria says he received a call informing him that Makhachev had sustained an injury and he would instead face Justin Gaethje. Topuria expressed confusion about why Makhachev doesn't want to fight him. In response, Islam Makhachev stated he is tired of hearing fabrications from Topuria and his team, claiming he agreed to the White House fight when contacted but was told the next day that Topuria requested a huge fee and was denied. Makhachev asserted it was Topuria who refused the bout. The post also notes that a fan commented at 4 AM telling Ali Abdelaziz to go to sleep, to which Makhachev replied "It's not him today," suggesting someone else was managing his social media at that moment. Additionally, Jorge Masvidal and others have backed Sean Strickland in his upcoming fight with Khamzat Chimaev.