Topuria and Makhachev dispute who rejected White House fight

Ilia Topuria claims he went to bed knowing he would fight Islam Makhachev at the White House event, but was called hours before the announcement to inform him Makhachev was injured and he would instead face Justin Gaethje. Topuria stated he does not understand why Makhachev does not want to fight him. Islam Makhachev responded by saying he is tired of Topuria's fabrications, explaining that he agreed to the White House fight but was told the next day that Topuria demanded a huge fee and was rejected. Makhachev insisted that Topuria refused the fight and knows it. Additionally, Jorge Masvidal and Joe Pyfer have both picked Sean Strickland to defeat Khamzat Chimaev, with Masvidal criticizing Chimaev's fighting style. Dricus Du Plessis named Israel Adesanya as his most technical opponent and Sean Strickland and Brad Tavares as his toughest, notably excluding Chimaev because he doesn't consider their encounter a real fight.