Topuria and Makhachev clash over conflicting accounts of White House fight talks

Illia Topuria and Islam Makhachev have offered contradictory versions of why their White House event fight fell through. Topuria claimed he went to sleep knowing the fight was happening but received a call hours before the announcement saying Makhachev was injured and he would face Gaethje instead, expressing confusion about why Makhachev doesn't want the fight. Makhachev countered that he agreed to the bout immediately when called, but the next day was told Topuria requested an enormous purse and was denied, accusing Topuria and his team of lying and noting even Topuria's manager confirmed this version. When a fan joked it was Ali Abdelaziz posting at 4 AM, Makhachev clarified it was not him managing the account. The post also noted Jorge Masvidal and Dustin Poirier backing Sean Strickland against Khamzat Chimaev, with Masvidal calling Chimaev's style "sitting and smelling crotches."