Makhachev claims Topuria's $20m demand ended their title unification fight

Islam Makhachev has revealed that a $20 million pay demand from Ilia Topuria’s camp was the reason a welterweight title unification fight between the two champions never materialised, with the UFC declining to meet the figure before pivoting to book Topuria against Justin Gaethje instead.

Speaking to Russian MMA journalist Adam Zubayraev, Makhachev said he agreed to the fight without hesitation when his manager first called with the offer. “I got a call in the morning and was offered the fight,” Makhachev said. “I agreed without asking for anything. They offered me the fight themselves, with a higher purse. Then the next morning they called back and said that Topuria wanted something like $20 million. He was turned down.”

Makhachev added that Topuria’s team then quickly pivoted to a different opponent. “That was the end of it and a couple of hours later his manager gave an interview. He said that the money wasn’t enough for them to fight Islam, but for the same money, under their contract, they agreed to fight Gaethje.”

Topuria’s manager Malki Kawa offered a different account in a social media post around the time the Gaethje fight was announced. Kawa said he was initially told Topuria would not be used for the card, only to receive a call days later presenting a choice between Gaethje and Makhachev. “I immediately said, ‘Shit, we want Islam,’” Kawa said. “They said, ‘OK, great. We’ll give you X number to fight him.’ And I said, ‘Bro, you know that never will happen.’” Kawa also maintained that Makhachev was never a realistic option from the UFC’s side.

Topuria himself suggested in a separate interview that the promotion did not want the fight to happen, though he did not elaborate on his reasoning. “I truly believe that the UFC doesn’t want to make it happen,” he said.

The dispute adds a pointed financial dimension to what had previously been a back-and-forth public exchange between the two champions over who was avoiding whom. Makhachev told Red Corner MMA he is prepared to back his version of events with evidence. “Some would say it’s not true, but I can show you the chats with my manager as we had calls and texts,” he said.

The backdrop to the saga is Gaethje’s stunning upset victory over Topuria at the UFC White House event this past Sunday, which stripped Topuria of the lightweight title he had been set to defend in the unification bout. Where both fighters go from here — and whether a Makhachev matchup remains on the table — has yet to be determined.