Ilia Topuria attacks Islam Makhachev for ducking UFC White House fight

Ilia Topuria did not hide his frustration after a highly anticipated bout with Islam Makhachev fell apart ahead of the upcoming UFC Freedom 250 event, which is scheduled to take place at the White House on June 14. The card, which was officially unveiled during UFC 326 last weekend, will now feature Topuria defending his lightweight championship against Justin Gaethje.

While the matchup still promises fireworks inside the octagon, it was not the fight that the reigning champion initially expected.

For more than a year, fans and analysts had been anticipating a clash between Topuria and Makhachev. The rivalry intensified when both fighters shifted divisions, setting the stage for what many believed would be one of the biggest fights in the sport.

Topuria, known by his nickname "El Matador," vacated the featherweight title to pursue opportunities in the lightweight division. Around the same time, Islam Makhachev moved up from lightweight to compete at welterweight, temporarily complicating plans for the long-discussed showdown.

Instead of facing Makhachev for the belt, Topuria fought Charles Oliveira for the vacant lightweight championship.

The bout ended emphatically, with Ilia Topuria knocking out Charles Oliveira in the first round to claim the title.

Topuria accuses Makhachev of avoiding the fight

Despite finally securing the championship, Topuria still wanted the opportunity to face Makhachev.

When rumors surfaced that the matchup could headline the UFC Freedom 250 card at the White House, the champion quickly confirmed negotiations were underway. However, those plans quickly unraveled.

According to Topuria, the promotion initially approached him about fighting Makhachev, and he accepted the potential bout immediately. The fight had not yet been formally announced, but it appeared to be moving toward confirmation before the event reveal.

"Once again, Islam [Makhachev] comes up with an excuse. This time it's an injury. I always knew I would be part of the White House event. Even when the UFC told me at one point that they wouldn't count on me for the event, I knew it was part of the negotiation," Topuria wrote on X.

The situation changed quickly, according to the champion. He explained that he had been informed about the potential matchup and was ready to compete before news arrived that Islam Makhachev had suffered an injury.

"When [the UFC] finally told me I would be on the White House card, they mentioned Islam and I didn't hesitate for a second to accept the fight," Ilia Topuria wrote on X.

"Even though the fight hadn't been officially confirmed yet, the White House card was going to be announced the next day. And when I woke, I found out that Islam had gotten injured. And then Justin Gaethje appeared."

Topuria prepares for huge fight

Now, Topuria will instead prepare to face Gaethje, one of the most dangerous strikers in the division. But the champion made it clear that his frustration over the collapsed fight remains.

In a fiery message directed not only at Makhachev but also his manager Ali Abdelaziz, Topuria vowed to channel that anger into his performance against Gaethje.

"Once again, someone else who will pay for Islam's escape. Both of their manager is a [expletive] and also ugly as hell," Ilia Topuria wrote on X.

"Justin, see you at the White House. I'm not someone who humiliates people. It will be quick. When you wake up, everything will already be over."

With UFC Freedom 250 approaching, the spotlight will now shift to whether Gaethje can derail the champion's momentum, or if Topuria will deliver another statement victory similar to his knockout of Charles Oliveira.