Islam Makhachev denies injury, says Topuria wanted $20M for UFC White House superfight

Islam Makhachev has shot down Dana White's version of why the UFC lightweight champion pulled out of a planned superfight with Ilia Topuria at this weekend's UFC Freedom 250 card on the White House South Lawn.

According to Makhachev, no injury stopped him from taking the fight. "I don't have any injuries," he said this week, per MMA Mania. "I can show you the chats with my manager. He called me: 'The White House event, a fight against Topuria'. And I said: 'Let's go', right away."

Topuria's reported $20 million demand

Instead, Makhachev claims the bout collapsed when Topuria's camp requested a massive payday. "The next morning they called back and said that Topuria wanted something like $20 million," Makhachev revealed. "He was turned down. A couple hours later his manager gave an interview, he said that the money wasn't enough for them to fight Islam. But for the same money, under their contract, they agreed to fight Gaethje."

The Russian added that his manager Ali Abdelaziz broke the news just a day after he had accepted the bout without haggling over purse. "But then the next day [Ali] called me and said it's cancelled," Makhachev explained. "He told me that [Topuria] asked for some insane money, and that was it."

Topuria now defends his lightweight title against Justin Gaethje on Sunday's White House card, while Makhachev awaits his next welterweight defence later this year.

Original reporting:

• mmamania.com — What Injury? Islam Makhachev Claims Ilia Topuria’s $20 Million Purse Demand Spoiled White House Fight | MMA Mania