Dana White has pushed again on Islam Makhachev’s model of occasions across the failed Ilia Topuria superfight, siding as a substitute with Topuria’s camp on the important thing query of why the matchup isn’t taking place on the White Home card in June.
Dana White: “That’s not true”
Throughout a latest look on Adin Ross’ Kick stream, Dana White was requested immediately whether or not Ilia Topuria had priced himself out of a June 14 combat with Islam Makhachev on the White Home garden. White replied, “That’s not true,” rejecting Makhachev’s declare that Topuria’s monetary calls for killed the bout. The UFC CEO added that Makhachev isn’t combating in June due to a hand harm and is being focused for a return later in the summertime, mentioning August because the sensible window.
Islam Makhachev vs Ilia Topuria: two tales
Topuria has stated for weeks that an harm to Makhachev was the rationale their champion‑vs‑champion conflict didn’t headline the historic White Home occasion. He stated he went to sleep anticipating the Makhachev combat to be finalized, solely to get up and be taught he would as a substitute defend his light-weight belt towards Justin Gaethje on June 14. Makhachev then floated a unique idea, arguing that Topuria’s “excessive” monetary calls for have been the actual impediment and suggesting the Georgian‑Spanish star walked away from the matchup.
Supervisor Malki Kawa particulars the talks
Topuria’s supervisor Malki Kawa not too long ago laid out his aspect on the Anik & Florian podcast and in comply with‑up feedback. He stated that on a Wednesday, the UFC requested their staff whether or not they most well-liked Justin Gaethje or Islam Makhachev for the White Home fundamental occasion and so they picked Makhachev.
In accordance with Kawa, the preliminary quantity from the promotion was “so low” that they needed nothing to do with it, and talks stalled at that time. By Friday, he stated, the UFC circled again with a brand new provide constructed across the Gaethje combat on the White Home as a result of, by then, Makhachev was off the desk with a hand concern.
Kawa argued that Islam vs Ilia “may be the largest combat in UFC historical past” and stated he requested for what he known as an inexpensive purse fairly than some mega‑determine, stressing it was nowhere close to the form of cash normally related to boxing blockbusters. He framed turning down the early proposal as customary negotiation, not ducking, saying he could be “a idiot” to just accept phrases that didn’t replicate the stakes of a champion‑vs‑champion combat.
The harm timeline and what’s subsequent
Dana White has publicly confirmed that Makhachev is coping with hand points that eliminated him from June plans, echoing earlier reviews that the welterweight champion has been managing a ligament downside lingering from earlier fights. Makhachev has posted coaching footage that raised questions on how severe the harm is, prompting welterweight contender Ian Machado Garry to name for an August date and accuse the champion of sending blended indicators.
It reads much less like a case of ducking and extra like a excessive‑stakes deal that by no means fairly landed. The UFC tried to pivot rapidly from an early lowball provide right into a White Home headliner, however the timing conflict with Makhachev’s hand concern and Topuria’s camp pushing for what they noticed as honest champion‑vs‑champion cash meant the edges by no means absolutely aligned. Between Malki Kawa brazenly chasing a much bigger payday and Makhachev publicly calling for enormous fights at welterweight and past, each males have made it clear they need this matchup beneath the appropriate situations, not that they’re hiding from one another.
For now, Freedom 250 on the White Home on June 14 will function Ilia Topuria versus Justin Gaethje for the light-weight title, whereas followers wait to see if the UFC can line up Makhachev’s return later within the yr and revisit the Islam‑Ilia superfight down the road.
