Ilia Topuria vs. Islam Makhachev at White House ‘was never an actual option’

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 28: Ilia Topuria of Germany reacts after his knockout victory against Charles Oliveira of Brazil in the UFC lightweight championship bout during the UFC 317 event at T-Mobile Arena on June 28, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC) Ilia Topuria’s manager wants to lay all the accusations that Ilia Topuria ducked Islam Makhachev over money to rest. The UFC White House card on June 11th is a pretty big card, but it could have been a lot bigger if the UFC had booked Jon Jones to fight Alex Pereira instead of Ciryl Gane, and Islam Makhachev to fight Ilia Topuria instead of Justin Gaethje.

Money is the obvious reason these weren’t booked, but UFC execs insist it has more to do with Jon Jones being unreliable and Islam Makhachev having a hand injury. Makhachev hasn’t really played along with that narrative. After the hand injury was announced he released video punching a heavy bag.

And then he called out Ilia Topuria, saying “El Matador” dodged the fight over money demands. Now Ilia’s manager Malki Kawa is laying out his client’s path to fighting Gaethje instead of Makhachev at the White House. “The Monday before [the White House card was announced], I called and said, ‘Hey, are you guys gonna use Ilia Topuria for this [White House] card?

’ The answer was no,” Kawa said on Instagram Live. “Wednesday comes around, I get a phone call that says, ‘Hey, he could fight. It’s his choice: Justin Gaethje or Islam Makhachev.