Topuria and Makhachev dispute conflicting accounts of White House fight cancellation

Illia Topuria and Islam Makhachev have offered contradictory explanations for why their White House event fight fell through. Topuria claimed he went to bed knowing the fight was scheduled with Makhachev, but received a call hours before the announcement saying Makhachev was injured and he would fight Justin Gaethje instead. Topuria questioned why Makhachev doesn't want to fight him, calling him "strange." Makhachev responded that he's tired of hearing fabrications from Topuria's team, stating he agreed to the White House fight when offered. Makhachev claimed the next day he was told Topuria demanded a huge fee and was rejected, and that even Topuria's manager confirmed this version. Makhachev insisted Topuria refused the fight and is lying. In a noteworthy detail, when a fan commented that it was 4 AM and Ali should sleep, Makhachev replied "Today it's not him," suggesting someone else was operating his account.