Ilya Topriya is preparing for his fight in the White House. |Getty/UFC
According to Ilia Topuria, there was some truth to the rumors that he was originally supposed to fight Islam Makhachev on the UFC White House card.
Since that title-on-title fight didn’t come to fruition, Topria will face Justin Gaethje in the main event of UFC White House on June 14. “El Matador” recounted the booking process in a social media post on Tuesday.
“Islam makes an excuse again. This time it’s hurt,” Topria wrote on X. “I always knew I would be at the White House event. Even though the UFC told me at one point they would not count on me for this fight, I knew that was part of the negotiation. When they finally told me I would be on the White House roster, they mentioned Islam, and I accepted the fight without hesitation. Although the fight has not been officially confirmed, the White House card will be announced the next day.
“It will be soon”
“When I woke up, I saw Islam was hurt. And then Justin Gaethje showed up. Once again, another guy was going to pay for Islam’s escape. Both of their managers were bitches and ugly as hell. Justin, see you at the White House. I’m not one to humiliate people. Soon. When you wake up, it’s over.”
Topria will return to action for the first time since last June, when he defeated Charles Oliveira to capture the vacant lightweight crown. The Georgian-Hispanic took a break at the beginning of the year to deal with personal issues. Gaethje, meanwhile, captured the interim belt with a five-round victory over Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324 on January 24.
Makhachev last appeared at UFC 322, where he captured the welterweight gold with a lopsided unanimous decision over Jack Della Maddalena.
