Ian Garry Claims Islam Makhachev Rejected Two Fight Offers, Including White House Bout

Ian Garry is claiming that lightweight champion Islam Makhachev has turned down not one but two separate fight offers in recent months, a report that has not been officially confirmed by the UFC or Makhachev's camp.

According to Garry, Makhachev declined a formal offer to face him in May at UFC 328. Garry further alleges that the promotion attempted to broker a high-profile matchup between Makhachev and Ilia Topuria at the White House, and that Makhachev passed on that opportunity as well.

Makhachev, 34, holds an imposing 28-1 record and currently sits atop both the lightweight division and the pound-for-pound rankings. The Russian southpaw fighting out of Eagles MMA is one of the most complete competitors in the sport, averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and landing strikes at a 58 percent accuracy clip — a rare combination of grappling dominance and technical precision.

Topuria, meanwhile, ranks first pound-for-pound at just 29 years old and carries a 17-1 record while competing at lightweight, where he is ranked second in the division. The Spaniard known as El Matador is among the most active strikers in the game, landing 4.81 significant strikes per minute, and has shown well-rounded skills with nearly two takedowns and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes as well.

Why it matters

• A Makhachev vs. Topuria fight would pit the two top pound-for-pound fighters in the world against each other, with the lightweight title on the line.
• If Garry's claims are accurate, Makhachev's reluctance to accept either bout could reshape the division's short-term landscape.
• Topuria remaining unbooked at lightweight keeps one of the sport's biggest names in limbo despite his top-two pound-for-pound status.
• These are unconfirmed allegations from one fighter and should be treated as a report until the UFC or Makhachev's team responds.