UFC White House bout that collapsed was super-fight as Dana White speaks out
A UFC super-fight reportedly fell through for the White House card as Dana White was asked about it following Zuffa Boxing 4.
The UFC officially unveiled the White House card, UFC Freedom 250, during last Saturday's event in Las Vegas.
It's a six-fight card, featuring two title bouts, including an interim title clash without Jon Jones, who made his feelings clear on being snubbed.
White and Co were in talks with several UFC stars before confirming the historic card.
Advert
And it appears Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje wasn't the promotion's original plan.
According to Marca's Irati Prat, the UFC tried to book Topuria against UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev.
Negotiations for Makhachev vs. Topuria didn't begin until last week, but an agreement was reached and the fight was going to happen at June's event.
However, on Friday, the UFC was informed that Makhachev would no longer be able to compete, prompting a reaction between UFC chief Hunter Campbell as well as matchmakers Mick Maynard and Sean Shelby at the UFC 326 ceremonial weigh-ins.
White, though, dismissed claims Makhachev vs. Topuria fell through but confirmed Gaethje was told on Friday that he'd be on the White House card.
Asked about Makhachev vs. Topuria and Gaethje's involvement, White replied: "That’s not true. That is true [Justin Gaethje wasn’t originally on the card]. It was never Islam versus Topuria. Don’t worry about what fights are being made. We announced which ones are made and which ones will be happening. I told you there were some weird circumstances."
He added: "The reason that fight fell out and it wasn’t up on stage with Mick [Maynard], Hunter [Campbell] and Sean [Shelby], it was at Power Slap that the fight fell apart that night and all the boys went back to the office and were there until literally 9 in the morning and that’s how Gaethje ended up on the card. Topuria wasn’t originally supposed to be on the card either. So he got the call, too."
Makhachev hasn't fought since beating Jack Della Maddalena for the UFC welterweight title last November.
His return is being held up because of an issue with his hand, according to White.
"He’s got some hand issues," White said about the Dagestan star. "I know that. I don’t know how serious the hand issues are or how long that will keep him out but he’s injured."
Speaking after the White House card announcement, Gaethje shared his side of the story, revealing he was initially told he was not going to fight at the White House before the UFC made a U-turn.
"Two days ago (March 5), I got a call and they said, 'You’re definitely not fighting on the White House card' so I was like hmmm, alright, cool," he said.
"Then yesterday I got a call and they said, ‘You might hear something. You might be on the White House card’. I was like, how are you gonna go complete 180 turn on me?"
Topics: UFC, Dana White
Nasir Jabbar