Ilia Topuria claimed he went to sleep knowing his fight with Islam Makhachev would be announced for the White House card, but hours before the official announcement was told Makhachev was injured and he would fight Justin Gaethje instead. Islam Makhachev responded by stating he accepted the White House fight when offered but was told the next day that Topuria requested a huge fee and was denied. Makhachev emphasized that even Topuria's manager confirmed this version, calling Topuria's account a lie. When a fan suggested it was manager Ali Abdelaziz posting, Makhachev replied "Not him today." The conflicting narratives highlight the ongoing dispute between the two camps about who declined the fight. Additional context from the post mentions Jorge Masvidal and Chase Hooper betting on Sean Strickland against Khamzat Chimaev, and that UFC 327 fighters have earned a combined 92 bonuses.
Saturday, April 11, 2026
