Ilia Topuria claims he was told he would fight Islam Makhachev at the White House event, only to be informed hours before the announcement that Makhachev was injured and he would face Justin Gaethje instead. Makhachev responded by denying the injury claim and stating that he accepted the White House fight offer, but was told the next day that Topuria requested a huge purse and was denied. Makhachev's manager confirmed the financial disagreement, accusing Topuria of lying about the circumstances. The exchange occurred late at night, with Makhachev humorously noting he wasn't managing his own social media at 4 AM. The public dispute highlights ongoing tensions between the two champions over a potential matchup.
