Topuria and Makhachev dispute who declined White House fight

A public disagreement has emerged between featherweight champion Ilia Topuria and lightweight champion Islam Makhachev regarding a proposed fight. Topuria claims he was told hours before the White House card announcement that he would fight Makhachev, but was later informed that Islam had sustained an injury and he would instead face Justin Gaethje. Makhachev countered by stating he agreed to the fight when contacted, but was told the next day that Topuria had requested a massive purse and was refused, with Makhachev claiming even Topuria's manager confirmed this version. A fan commented on Makhachev's post at 4 AM telling him to go to sleep, to which Makhachev cryptically replied that it wasn't him posting. Additionally, Jorge Masvidal and Joe Pyfer both picked Sean Strickland to defeat Khamzat Chimaev, with Masvidal calling Chimaev's style "sitting and sniffing crotches." Dricus Du Plessis named Israel Adesanya as his most technical opponent and Sean Strickland and Brad Tavares as his toughest, notably excluding Chimaev since he doesn't consider their brief encounter a real fight.