Topuria and Makhachev dispute who rejected White House fight

Ilia Topuria claimed he was initially scheduled to fight Islam Makhachev at the White House event but that Makhachev pulled out with an injury hours before the announcement. Topuria stated he went to bed expecting the Makhachev fight and woke up being told he would fight Gaethje instead. Islam Makhachev fired back, saying he agreed to the fight but that Topuria's team demanded an excessive fee and was denied, leading to the cancellation. Makhachev claimed even Topuria's manager confirmed this version of events. The exchange highlights ongoing tension between the two champions, with both accusing the other of avoiding the matchup. Under Makhachev's response, a fan joked about the late-night posting time, to which Makhachev cryptically replied "Today it's not him," possibly referencing his manager Ali Abdelaziz's typical social media activity.