Topuria and Makhachev contradict each other over White House fight cancellation

Illia Topuria and Islam Makhachev have provided conflicting accounts of why their proposed White House event fight fell through. Topuria claimed he went to sleep knowing the fight was scheduled, only to receive a call hours before the announcement stating Makhachev was injured and he would face Justin Gaethje instead. Makhachev responded that he agreed to the fight when offered, but was told the next day that Topuria requested a huge purse and was denied, leading to the cancellation. Makhachev insisted that even Topuria's manager confirmed this version and accused the Georgian of lying. When a fan commented on Makhachev's late-night posting, he replied that it was not Ali Abdelaziz managing his account at that moment. The public dispute continues to escalate with both sides claiming the other rejected the bout.