Makhachev disputes injury claim, reveals Topuria’s $20 million demand
Islam Makhachev is pushing back hard against Dana White’s claim that an injury prevented a super-fight with Ilia Topuria at UFC Freedom 250. The UFC lightweight champion says he was ready to fight — and that the real reason the bout fell through was Topuria’s staggering financial demand.
In an interview with Red Corner MMA, Makhachev stated he had no injuries and accepted the fight immediately when offered. “I don’t have any injuries,” he said. “I can show you the chats with my manager. He called me and said, ‘The White House event, a fight against Topuria.’ And I said, ‘Let’s go,’ right away.”
Makhachev went further in a separate interview with blogger Adam Zubayraev, claiming the UFC told him Topuria wanted around $20 million for the clash. “The next morning they called back and said that Topuria wanted something like $20 million. He was turned down. That was the end of it.”
The welterweight champion (28-1) is set to return at UFC 330 in Philadelphia on August 15, while Topuria faces Justin Gaethje in the Freedom 250 main event on Sunday.
Why the super-fight collapsed
The stakes for this canceled matchup were enormous. A fight between Makhachev, the dominant lightweight king, and Topuria, the undefeated Spanish star who moved up to welterweight, would have been one of the biggest in UFC history. The promotion’s July 4 weekend show at the White House was seen as the perfect stage.
Dana White initially said Makhachev was injured. Makhachev disputes that, instead pointing to Topuria’s camp. Topuria’s manager, Malki Kawa, previously admitted the UFC gave them the option of fighting Makhachev or Gaethje, and talks stalled when they turned down the money offered.
Makhachev insists he asked for nothing extra. “They offered me the fight themselves, with a higher purse,” he said. The rejection of Topuria’s request led the UFC to book Topuria vs. Gaethje for the interim lightweight title unification bout.
What this means for the lightweight division
This public dispute highlights growing tensions between fighters and the UFC over pay. Makhachev’s willingness to call out both White and Topuria signals a new assertiveness from a champion who rarely engages in controversy.
The fallout may also affect future matchmaking. If Makhachev retains his belt at UFC 330, talks for a Topuria super-fight will likely resume — but with a sizable financial gap to bridge. For now, the lightweight division moves forward with Gaethje vs. Topuria, while Makhachev awaits a yet-unnamed opponent in Philadelphia.
Interestingly, the political backdrop of the White House event has added another layer. As Eric Trump Steps Into Spotlight at White House UFC as 'Forgotten Son' Narrative Fades, the spectacle around Freedom 250 grows. Meanwhile, Makhachev’s camp remains focused on the future.
Broader implications for fighter pay
Makhachev’s willingness to go public with negotiation details is rare. It could embolden other fighters to demand transparency in an era where the UFC’s revenue-sharing model faces increasing scrutiny. Topuria’s reported $20 million ask, while rejected, reflects a growing trend where top stars leverage their marketability for higher guarantees.
For fans, the canceled super-fight leaves a lingering sense of missed opportunity. But the Makhachev-Topuria story is far from over. With both men likely to win their upcoming bouts, the path to a future showdown remains open — provided the money can be sorted out.
Makhachev summed it up simply: “I said ‘yes’ right away, without asking for more money and stuff like that.” The ball now sits in Topuria’s court — and the UFC’s wallet.
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