Topuria and Makhachev offer conflicting accounts of White House fight collapse

Illia Topuria and Islam Makhachev have provided contradictory explanations for why their planned fight at the White House event fell through. Topuria claims he was informed hours before the announcement that he would fight Makhachev, but was then told Makhachev suffered an injury and he would face Gaethje instead. Makhachev countered that he agreed to the fight when contacted, but was informed the next day that Topuria requested a huge fee and was denied, with even Topuria's manager allegedly confirming this version. When a fan noted it was 4 AM and suggested Makhachev go to sleep, he responded that "today it's not him," implying someone else manages his account. The conflicting narratives have left fans confused about what actually transpired in the negotiations.