Fact check: Was Islam Makhachev vs Ilia Topuria ever materialized for UFC White House Card? Ali Abdelaziz gives much needed tea on fan-favorite fight

The much-talked-about clash between Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria was never close to becoming a reality for the upcoming UFC White House fight card. Despite strong rumors and growing excitement among fans, Makhachev’s longtime manager, Ali Abdelaziz, has now made it clear that the fight fell apart almost instantly. His revelation has surprised many, especially as the event is just weeks away and speculation has reached its peak.

Abdelaziz explained that discussions around the fight were extremely brief and ended before they could even begin properly. While fans believed negotiations were ongoing, the truth paints a very different picture. The blockbuster fight, which many considered one of the biggest possible matchups in the UFC, reportedly collapsed before Makhachev was even informed about it leaving fans wondering what really went wrong.

Islam Makhachev vs Ilia Topuria talks collapse early ahead of UFC White House event

Ali Abdelaziz revealed to TMZ Sports that he initially received a call about Ilia Topuria fighting Islam Makhachev and was excited about the possibility. However, the situation changed very quickly. He said that shortly after the first call, he received another message telling him to forget about the fight as it was no longer happening. The discussions ended before he could even speak to Makhachev, who was asleep at the time.

The main reason behind the collapse appears to be financial disagreements. Abdelaziz hinted that Topuria may have demanded a higher purse than what the UFC was willing to offer. This made the fight a nonstarter. Even so, he still believes that Makhachev vs Topuria is the biggest fight the UFC can make right now. He added that the bout should happen soon, possibly later this year, but also questioned whether Topuria truly wants the fight.

Fans quickly began to speculate Makhachev’s next opponent. One fan said "Does it really matter if it’s Usman or morales? They both lose to Islam badly", while another wrote, “Exactly! Its exciting to see Islam staying active and challenging top contenders. This fights gonna be a real test for both him and the contender. Cant wait for the official announcement!". One user wrote, "damn bout time they locked that down".

Some fans speculated about bigger matchups, imagining a scenario where Conor McGregor could be involved or even share the same card with Makhachev, calling it a massive possibility.

For now, Ilia Topuria is focused on his upcoming bout against Justin Gaethje, where the two lightweight stars will fight to unify their belts on June 14 at the White House event.