Makhachev and Topuria dispute who rejected White House event fight

Islam Makhachev and Illia Topuria have offered conflicting accounts about why their White House event fight did not materialize. Topuria claims he went to sleep knowing the fight was scheduled but received a call hours before the announcement saying Makhachev was injured and he would instead face Justin Gaethje. Makhachev countered by stating he agreed to the bout when offered, but the next day was told Topuria demanded an enormous fee and was turned down, with even Topuria's manager allegedly confirming this version. Makhachev emphasized it was not him personally posting the response, writing "Today this is not him" when someone commented it was 4 AM. The he-said-he-said dispute leaves the true reason for the fight's cancellation unclear. Both fighters accuse the other of being dishonest about the negotiation breakdown.