Topuria and Makhachev offer conflicting accounts of White House event fight talks

Ilia Topuria and Islam Makhachev have presented contradictory versions of events regarding a potential fight at the White House event. Topuria claimed he went to bed knowing he would fight Makhachev, only to be told hours before the announcement that Islam was injured and he would face Justin Gaethje instead. He expressed confusion about why Makhachev doesn't want to fight him. Makhachev countered by stating he accepted the White House bout when offered, but was told the next day that Topuria requested an enormous fee and was denied, with even Topuria's manager confirming this. Makhachev accused Topuria and his team of lying, insisting Topuria refused the fight. In a related exchange, when a fan noted it was 4 AM and suggested Makhachev's manager Ali Abdelaziz was posting, Makhachev cryptically replied "Today it's not him." The dispute highlights ongoing tensions between the featherweight and lightweight champions.