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Islam Makhachev Says Ilia Topuria Wanted $20 MILLION to Fight Him at the White House
Islam Makhachev has offered a new explanation for why his highly anticipated showdown with Ilia Topuria failed to materialize for the UFC White House Event. According to Makhachev, the fight did not fall apart because of injuries or a lack of interest from either side. Instead, he claims that Topuria was seeking a massive $20 million payday to accept the matchup. The comments add another twist to an already confusing situation, as several different explanations have surfaced regarding why the bout was never booked. Previous reports and statements from UFC officials suggested injuries may have played a role, while Topuria has publicly questioned Makhachev's willingness to take the fight. Makhachev's latest remarks directly challenge that narrative and have sparked fresh debate among fans over what really happened behind the scenes. As long as both champions continue winning, many believe the UFC will eventually be forced to make one of the biggest fights possible in mixed martial arts.
Why is $20 Million to much for Ilia Topuria?
In other words, the UFC may not have been willing to pay one of its biggest stars what he believed he was worth. Considering the UFC White House event is reportedly expected to cost more than $60 million to stage, it would make sense for the promotion to be cautious about committing an enormous payday to a single fighter. If the UFC were to meet Topuria's reported asking price, it could also create pressure to pay other superstar champions such as Islam Makhachev and Alex Pereira similar amounts to appear on the card.
With Islam now publicly discussing the situation, it has sparked new questions about what really happened behind the scenes regarding a potential fight with Topuria. Some fans are wondering whether previous explanations about injuries and scheduling conflicts told the full story, while others believe the negotiations simply fell apart due to financial demands. At the same time, there are also critics who question why Islam waited so long to address the rumors if this was truly the reason the fight never materialized.
Of course, there is no concrete evidence that either side is being dishonest. Some fans believe Makhachev is simply clarifying his side of the story, while others think he may be trying to avoid criticism for not facing Topuria sooner. Regardless of where the truth lies, the situation has only added more intrigue to one of the most talked-about matchups in the sport. With Makhachev fighting less frequently in recent years, many fans have grown frustrated with the long gaps between his appearances and are eager to see him return to action against the division's biggest names.
Will we ever see this fight happen?
Despite the recent drama, there is still a very good chance that this fight eventually gets made. With the UFC's new broadcast agreement, the promotion may not have to worry as much about spreading its biggest stars across multiple pay-per-view cards. Instead of relying solely on individual PPV sales, the UFC now has the security of a massive media rights deal that guarantees a set amount of revenue. That could give the promotion more flexibility to book the biggest fights available whenever the opportunity arises.
Because of that, a showdown between Topuria and Makhachev remains one of the most attractive matchups the UFC can make. If both champions successfully defend their titles in their new divisions, the UFC could revisit negotiations and finally put the fight together. Depending on how the schedules of both fighters play out, there is even a possibility the matchup could happen before the end of the year. If Makhachev does not end up facing Ian Garry and the UFC decides to prioritize a blockbuster champion-versus-champion fight instead, fans could finally get the matchup they have been asking for over the past several years.