Ilia Topuria claims he was told hours before the White House event announcement that he would fight Islam Makhachev, only to be informed later that Makhachev suffered an injury and he would face Justin Gaethje instead. Topuria questioned why Makhachev doesn't want the fight. Makhachev responded that he accepted the White House bout offer, but was told the next day that Topuria requested a huge fee and was denied. Makhachev insisted Topuria refused the fight and that even Topuria's manager confirmed this. The post also notes that Jorge Masvidal and Chase Hooper have backed Sean Strickland against Khamzat Chimaev, with Masvidal calling Chimaev's style "sitting and smelling crotches." Additionally, Dricus Du Plessis stated Israel Adesanya was his most technical opponent, while Strickland and Tavarès were the toughest, notably excluding Chimaev as he doesn't consider their meeting a real fight.
