Topuria and Makhachev dispute who rejected White House fight

Featherweight champion Ilia Topuria claims he went to sleep expecting a fight with Islam Makhachev at the White House event, only to be told hours before the announcement that Makhachev was injured and he would fight Justin Gaethje instead. Topuria stated he doesn't understand why Makhachev doesn't want to fight him. Makhachev responded by calling Topuria's claims fabrications, stating he agreed to the White House fight when offered, but was told the next day that Topuria requested a huge fee and was denied. Makhachev insisted that Topuria rejected the fight and knows it. The lightweight champion posted his response at 4 AM, with a fan commenting on the late hour, to which Makhachev replied cryptically that it wasn't him posting. Additionally, Jorge Masvidal and Chase Hooper both picked Sean Strickland to defeat Khamzat Chimaev, with Masvidal calling Chimaev's style "sitting and smelling crotches."