Ilia Topuria’s manager attempts to place speculation to bed regarding failed Islam Makhachev fight

Ilia Topuria and Islam Makhachev proceed to have different stories as to why they aren’t fighting one another next.

At one point, it seemed as if we were finally going to get Ilia Topuria vs Islam Makhachev on the UFC White House event after negotiations took place.

Despite that, ‘El Matador’ claimed that an ongoing hand injury to the Russian prevented them from fighting, which was disputed by Makhachev.

The welterweight champion claimed that Topuria and his team were demanding an excessive amount of money which resulted within the stumbling block.

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Topuria’s manager attempts to place speculation to bed

The saga regarding the negotiations between Topuria and Makhachev have been occurring for several months now.

Dana White disputed Makhachev’s claim earlier this week that ‘El Matador’ priced himself out of the fight claiming that’s ‘not true’.

And now, Topuria’s manager Malki Kawa has taken to social media to make clear what happened, attempting to place all speculation to bed.

“I actually need to make clear this Ilia Topuria Islam thing because people really take things way out of context and way out of proportion,” Kawa began his statement.

“That Monday before I called and said ‘Are you guys gonna use Ilia Topuria for this card?’, the reply was no. The Wednesday comes around and I get a call that claims ‘hey, he can fight, its his alternative, Justin Gaethje or Islam Makhachev’ and I immediately said, ‘s— we wish Islam’.

“They said ‘we’ll offer you X number to fight’ and I said, ‘bro, you already know that never will occur’, they said here’s the number and you may have a alternative, I said we wish Islam, that’s exactly what I said.

“Ilia Topuria wants Islam Makhachev, that’s who he desired to fight, he said ‘call me back let me know if that’ll work’. Friday comes, they didn’t speak to me, I didn’t speak to them, I am going to bed, and at 11:59 on the dot I’m getting phone calls.”

Makhachev hasn’t fought since last November when he won the 170lb title and since then he has allegedly been coping with a hand injury.

Despite that, Ian Machado Garry has been waiting for a possible fight against him however the Russian continues to cite hand injuries as to why he can’t fight the Irishman, despite him claiming that he could fight Topuria in June.

“I called Hunter and said ‘what’s up’, he said, ‘we wish Ilia to fight’ and I said ‘okay, Islam?’, he replied ‘Islam can’t fight his hand is tousled’ that moment on Friday night I’m on the phone to the UFC brass negotiating all night,” Kawa continued.

“That negotiation was for Justin Gaethje, Islam Makhachev was never actually an option. Who’s ducking who? Everyone agrees Ilia vs Islam is perhaps the largest fight in UFC history don’t you guys think they need to have the largest payday in UFC history? I’d be a rattling idiot to take that fight for lower than the suitable number.

“It’s not like I asked for $100 million and even $50 million, I asked for a number that I feel is super reasonable… After (the UFC White House fight) what’s gonna occur is we’re gonna have that conversation again, and it’ll be as much as the UFC again… However the number needs to be right.”