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The highly anticipated showdown between Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria was never a realistic option for the UFC White House fight card, according to Makhachev’s longtime manager, Ali Abdelaziz. Despite rampant speculation and fan excitement, Abdelaziz clarified that the proposed bout fell apart almost immediately after initial discussions.
Abdelaziz revealed to TMZ Sports that he received a call about a potential matchup between Topuria and Makhachev, which initially sparked his interest. However, the situation changed abruptly. Shortly after that first call, he got another message instructing him to forget the fight, as it was no longer on the table. The negotiations ended before he could even inform Makhachev, who was asleep at the time.
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The primary reason for the collapse appears to be financial disagreements. Abdelaziz hinted that Topuria may have demanded a larger purse than the UFC was willing to offer, making the fight a non-starter. Despite this, Abdelaziz still believes that Makhachev vs Topuria is the biggest fight the UFC can make right now and expressed hope it could happen later this year, though he questioned whether Topuria truly wants the bout.
Fans quickly reacted, with many speculating on Makhachev’s next opponent. One fan commented, “Does it really matter if it’s Usman or Morales? They both lose to Islam badly,” while another wrote, “Exactly! It’s exciting to see Islam staying active and challenging top contenders. This fight’s gonna be a real test for both him and the contender. Can’t wait for the official announcement!” Some even imagined a scenario involving Conor McGregor sharing a card with Makhachev.
For now, Ilia Topuria is focused on his upcoming fight against Justin Gaethje. The two lightweight stars are scheduled to unify their belts on June 14 at the White House event.
