Topuria and Makhachev dispute details of failed White House fight booking

Ilia Topuria and Islam Makhachev are publicly contradicting each other about why their White House event fight fell through. Topuria claims he went to sleep knowing the Makhachev fight was happening, but was called hours before the announcement and told Islam was injured, resulting in Justin Gaethje being his opponent instead. He expressed confusion about why Makhachev doesn't want to fight him. Makhachev counters that he agreed to the White House bout when offered, but was told the next day that Topuria requested a huge purse and was denied. Makhachev insists Topuria refused the fight and knows it, calling the Georgian's claims lies. In a notable detail, when a fan commented at 4 AM telling Ali to go to sleep, Makhachev replied "Today it's not him," suggesting someone else was managing his account. The post also notes that Jorge Masvidal and Dustin Poirier have backed Sean Strickland in his upcoming bout with Chimaev.