Topuria and Makhachev exchange conflicting accounts over White House fight collapse

UFC champions Ilia Topuria and Islam Makhachev provided contradictory explanations regarding why their planned White House event bout fell through. Topuria claimed he went to bed knowing the fight was confirmed but was informed hours before the official announcement that Makhachev suffered an injury and he would instead face Justin Gaethje. Makhachev countered these claims, stating he accepted the White House fight offer but was told the next day that Topuria requested an enormous purse and was denied, leading to the fight's cancellation. Makhachev insisted Topuria's team knows this version is accurate and accused them of lying. A fan commented on Makhachev's late-night social media activity, to which Makhachev cryptically replied it wasn't him posting. The conflicting narratives have left uncertainty about which fighter is telling the truth.