Ilia Topuria’s manager clarifies negotiations for UFC White House: ‘Islam Makhachev was never an actual option’
MMA Fighting • • sports
Key Points:
- Ilia Topuria is scheduled to face Justin Gaethje in a lightweight title unification bout at UFC White House on June 14, after discussions about a potential matchup with Islam Makhachev did not materialize.
- Topuria’s manager, Malki Kawa, revealed that the UFC initially offered Topuria a choice between fighting Gaethje or Makhachev, but the Makhachev fight was never a viable option due to Makhachev’s hand injury.
- Negotiations for the Gaethje fight occurred late at night just before the official UFC 326 card announcement, with Kawa emphasizing that the Makhachev fight was not declined by Topuria’s camp.
- Kawa insists that Topuria still wants to fight Makhachev after UFC White House and that any delay or failure to arrange that fight lies with the UFC, not Topuria or his team.
- The manager also highlighted the significance of a Topuria vs. Makhachev fight, suggesting it could be one of the biggest in UFC history and demanding a pay scale commensurate with its importance.
