Topuria and Makhachev dispute who declined White House fight

Ilia Topuria claims he was informed hours before the White House event announcement that he would fight Islam Makhachev, but received a call saying Makhachev was injured and he would instead face Justin Gaethje. Topuria questioned why Makhachev doesn't want to fight him. Makhachev responded that he accepted the White House fight when offered, but was told the next day that Topuria requested a huge purse and was denied. Makhachev's manager Ali Abdelaziz appeared to post the response, though Makhachev later clarified "today it's not him." The conflicting accounts leave unclear who actually declined the proposed matchup. Meanwhile, Jorge Masvidal and Dustin Poirier backed Sean Strickland in a potential fight with Khamzat Chimaev, with Masvidal calling Chimaev's style "sitting and smelling crotches."