Topuria and Makhachev trade accusations over White House fight cancellation

Ilia Topuria and Islam Makhachev have exchanged conflicting accounts about why their planned White House fight fell through. Topuria claimed he went to sleep knowing the fight with Makhachev was happening, but was told hours before the announcement that Islam was injured and he would face Gaethje instead. Makhachev countered that he agreed to the bout when offered, but UFC told him the next day that Topuria requested a huge purse and was denied, leading to the cancellation. Makhachev stated even Topuria's manager confirmed this version and accused Topuria of lying. The post also notes that Jorge Masvidal and Chase Piper have bet on Sean Strickland against Khamzat Chimaev, and that Dricus Du Plessis considers Israel Adesanya his most technical opponent, with Strickland and Tavarés as the toughest hitters, not counting his brief encounter with Chimaev.