A proposed Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria showdown that was expected to headline a UFC event at the White House reportedly fell apart over money, according to UFC welterweight Colby Covington. Covington also argued the matchup may have been more dangerous for Makhachev than many fans assumed.
A rumored Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria fight tied to a potential UFC card at the White House never got finalized, and Colby Covington says the reason was simple: the price tag. Speaking about the failed booking, Covington claimed Makhachev asked for massive money for the bout, suggesting the champion had good reason to be cautious about the matchup.
From an American MMA perspective, this is exactly the kind of fight fans wanted because it would have carried major pound-for-pound implications and likely reshaped the title picture across multiple divisions. If Makhachev beat Topuria, it would strengthen his case as the sport’s top overall fighter and close the door on a dangerous challenger moving up. If Topuria won, it would instantly elevate him into rare air as the man who solved one of the most complete champions in the UFC.
Covington’s take was blunt: he believes Topuria would have had real success on the feet and could have made life difficult for Makhachev with his compact frame and low center of gravity. He pointed to Makhachev’s competitive fight with Alexander Volkanovski and contrasted that with Topuria’s emphatic win over Volkanovski, using that comparison to argue the matchup was far from comfortable for the lightweight king.
The fight also carried real narrative stakes. Makhachev still needs signature wins over naturally dangerous, younger opponents to keep building his legacy beyond the Khabib Nurmagomedov comparison. Topuria, meanwhile, is trying to prove his power and pressure translate against elite wrestlers and not just fellow strikers. That tension is a big part of why the matchup gained so much traction in U.S. media circles.
For now, the bout remains one of the biggest “what ifs” on the UFC calendar, and the next move from both camps will determine whether this superfight gets revived or stays on the shelf.
