The ongoing saga between Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria has taken an intriguing turn, shedding light on the financial demands that could have potentially scuppered a highly anticipated showdown. Makhachev, the reigning welterweight champion, has been vocal about his belief that Topuria's team's salary request was the primary reason the fight never materialized. In a recent interview, Makhachev revealed that the UFC initially offered him the fight without any negotiation, but when Topuria's team demanded an eight-figure sum, the UFC backed out.
Makhachev's manager, Ali Abdelaziz, played a pivotal role in this narrative. According to Makhachev, Abdelaziz informed him that the fight would be lucrative due to the White House event's prestige. However, the next day, Abdelaziz called to cancel the fight, citing Topuria's exorbitant salary request. Makhachev's account is supported by Dana White, who confirmed the story, and Topuria's manager, Malki Kawa, who, while denying the initial offer, acknowledged the salary dispute.
Kawa's version of events suggests that Topuria's team was initially uninterested in facing Makhachev, only considering him when the fight against Justin Gaethje fell through. This contradicts Topuria's statement that the UFC was the primary obstacle. The lightweight champion's availability has also been a point of contention, with Makhachev denying any hand injury prevented him from fighting Topuria, despite Kawa's support for this narrative. Makhachev's focus now shifts to his upcoming defense against Ian Machado Garry, scheduled for August 15 in Philadelphia, as he continues to navigate the complexities of the MMA world's financial and personal dynamics.
