Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria are blaming each other for a rumored UFC White House fight that never got booked. After Topuria publicly predicted a fast finish against Justin Gaethje, he also claimed Makhachev was supposed to be the original opponent.
Topuria said the UFC contacted him while he was in the Dominican Republic and told him a White House card fight with Makhachev was possible. He said talks moved far enough that he believed the matchup was real before he was told the plan had changed.
“I went to the Dominican Republic, and there I received a call from the UFC, indicating that I might be at the White House to fight Islam Makhachev. Dana White came out saying that he would announce the entire card in two days, so I said that if I were there, it would be against Islam. Suddenly, they called me to tell me that Islam had been injured and that he would be fighting Justin Gaethje. There were points in the negotiation that we were discussing, but that’s secondary.”
That clip is below.
Ilia Topuria says he went to sleep thinking he was going to fight Islam Makhachev at the White House, then woke up to calls saying it's actually going to be Justin Gaethje
🗣️ Ilia: "[I went to sleep] knowing and thinking I was going to fight Islam."
🗣️ Reporter: "Why doesn't… pic.twitter.com/dSg8nEAYJM
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) April 6, 2026
Makhachev answered with a different version and said Topuria’s side killed the fight over money.
“I’m tired of hearing made-up stories from Topuria and his team. I got the call and accepted the fight at the White House. The next day, I was told he asked for an unrealistic purse. The UFC declined, and he pulled out. That’s it nothing more to it. Even his manager confirmed it. Ilia, stop talking. Every interview you give tells a different story. You pulled out, and you know it.”
Makhachev’s post is below.
I’m tired of hearing made-up stories from Topuria and his team.
I got the call and accepted the fight at the White House. The next day, I was told he asked for an unrealistic purse. The UFC declined, and he pulled out. That’s it nothing more to it.
Even his manager confirmed it.…— Makhachev Islam (@MAKHACHEVMMA) April 7, 2026
Two sides are selling two different versions
Topuria says he was headed toward a fight with Makhachev before being told the champion was injured. Makhachev says he accepted and Topuria priced himself out. Dana White has also publicly denied that the matchup was ever set for the White House card, which leaves the entire story in dispute.
The money angle is the part that keeps this alive. Topuria’s team has also said they were open to either the Makhachev fight or the Gaethje fight, with finances playing a major role in how talks unfolded. That does not prove Makhachev ducked him, and it does not clear Topuria either. It shows the fight got stuck in negotiation before it became official.
That is why this story keeps hanging around. Makhachev is still one of the UFC’s toughest stylistic problems, and Topuria has turned himself into one of the promotion’s hottest stars. It is the kind of matchup that stays in the headlines even when the contract never gets signed, just like every recent Makhachev move has drawn a reaction.
If the UFC books it, the public argument will stop mattering the second the cage door closes. If it does not, this one will keep hanging around with the rest of the division’s unfinished business, much like other lightweight title stories that refuse to die.
