Topuria and Makhachev exchange conflicting accounts of White House fight plans

Ilia Topuria claimed he was told hours before the White House card announcement that he would face Islam Makhachev, but received a call saying Makhachev was injured and he would fight Justin Gaethje instead. Topuria questioned why Makhachev doesn't want to fight him. Makhachev responded that he's tired of Topuria's fabrications, stating he accepted the White House fight but was told the next day that Topuria requested a huge purse and was denied. Makhachev insisted Topuria refused the fight. In separate news, Jorge Masvidal and Chase Hooper backed Sean Strickland in his upcoming fight with Khamzat Chimaev, with Masvidal criticizing Chimaev's style. Dricus Du Plessis also commented that Israel Adesanya was his most technical opponent, while Strickland and Paulo Costa were his toughest, notably excluding Chimaev from consideration.