Topuria and Makhachev dispute claim over scrapped White House fight

Ilia Topuria claimed he was scheduled to fight Islam Makhachev and went to bed knowing the bout would be announced, only to be told hours before the White House event announcement that Makhachev was injured and he would face Justin Gaethje instead. Makhachev responded by stating he agreed to the White House fight but was told the next day that Topuria requested a huge purse and was denied, with even Topuria's manager allegedly confirming this version. The exchange highlights conflicting accounts about why a potential Topuria-Makhachev superfight did not materialize. In other notes, Jorge Masvidal and Joe Pyfer backed Sean Strickland against Khamzat Chimaev, with Masvidal criticizing Chimaev's style. Dricus Du Plessis named Israel Adesanya as his most technical opponent.