Topuria and Makhachev dispute conflicting accounts of failed fight negotiations

Ilia Topuria claimed he was informed just hours before the White House event announcement that his scheduled fight with Islam Makhachev was canceled due to Makhachev's injury, and he would instead face Justin Gaethje. Islam Makhachev responded by stating that Topuria's team requested an excessive purse and were denied, and that even Topuria's manager confirmed this version of events. The exchange highlights conflicting narratives about who rejected the fight. A fan commented on Makhachev's late-night social media activity, to which Makhachev replied that it wasn't him posting. The back-and-forth has intensified the debate among fans about the truth behind the failed matchup.