Islam Makhachev’s accusation of Ilia Topuria lying about super-fight disputed by top manager

Ilia Topuria’s manager Malki Kawa has clarified the true details surrounding Islam Makhachev and their failed June fight.

In recent days, Makhachev has claimed that Topuria and his team are lying about the circumstances surrounding a potential meeting between the two at UFC White House. The welterweight champion believes that his rival priced himself out of the fight on purpose, essentially ‘pulling out’.

However, Kawa tells a very different story about what exactly happened. There are also reports of Makhachev having a hand injury, which he appears to have inadvertently discredited by claiming to have been able to fight on June 14.

Islam Makhachev disputed by Malki Kawa in Ilia Topuria feud

The verbal back-and-forth between Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria came to a head yesterday when the welterweight champion took to X to give his side of why the pair aren’t fighting at UFC White House.

“I’m tired of hearing made-up stories from Topuria and his team,” Makhachev wrote in a tweet that he later confirmed was his own, and not written by manager Ali Abdelaziz. “I got the call and accepted the fight at the White House.

“The next day, I was told he asked for an unrealistic purse. The UFC declined, and he pulled out. That’s it nothing more to it. Even his manager confirmed it. Ilia, stop talking. Every interview you give tells a different story. You pulled out, and you know it.”

Kawa’s version of the story is different, saying that his side had told the UFC they wouldn’t fight anyone for the initially offered price.

“There’s no lie,” Kawa wrote on X, referring back to a March tweet. “We said no to both and UFC went dark. When they came back and AGREED TO THE NUMBERS, ISLAM’S HAND WAS HURT AND COULDN’T TAKE THE FIGHT.

“So to whomever is running islams account, stop the [bulls—]. When White House is over, we will continue to look for that fight. And THE MONEY THAT COMES WITH IT.”