Topuria and Makhachev dispute White House fight negotiations breakdown

Iliya Topuria and Islam Makhachev have presented conflicting accounts of failed negotiations for a White House event bout. Topuria claimed he went to sleep believing the fight was confirmed, only to wake up hours before the announcement and be told Makhachev had suffered an injury and he would face Justin Gaethje instead. Makhachev countered that he agreed to the fight immediately but was told the next day that Topuria had requested an enormous purse and been denied. Makhachev insisted Topuria's manager confirmed this version and accused Topuria of lying about the situation. In a notable detail, when a fan suggested it was Ali Abdelaziz posting at 4 AM, Makhachev responded that it was not Abdelaziz this time.