Ilia Topuria’s manager claims Islam Makhachev wasn’t truly an option for UFC Freedom 250

Ilia Topuria’s manager has made an attempt to clear up rumors surrounding his fighter’s UFC Freedom 250 fight negotiations.

Topuria will be facing Justin Gaethje in a lightweight title unification bout at the White House on June 14. In recent weeks, much has been made about why Topuria vs. Islam Makhachev wasn’t booked for the historic card. While UFC CEO Dana White told reporters that Makhachev’s hand was injured, Topuria’s manager Malki Kawa claimed the offer presented to fight Makhachev was too low.

While this led to initial confusion, Kawa addressed what transpired during a recent live stream on his Instagram page.

“I really need to clarify this Ilia Topuria-Islam thing because people are really taking things way out of context, way out of proportion,” Kawa said. “That Monday before, I called and said, ‘Hey, are you guys going to use Ilia Topuria for this card?’ The answer was, ‘no.’ Wednesday comes around, I get a phone call that says, ‘It’s his choice. Justin Gaethje or Islam Makhachev.’

I immediately said, ‘[Expletive], we want Islam.’ They said, ‘Ok, great. We’ll give you X number to fight him.’ I said, ‘Bro, you know that never will happen.’ They said, ‘Here’s the number, and you have a choice.’ I said, ‘I want Islam.’ That’s exactly what we said. ‘Ilia Topuria wants Islam Makhachev.’ That’s who we wanted to fight.”

Kawa and the UFC brass didn’t have contact all of Thursday and Friday before his phone starting going off just before midnight.

“Friday comes, they didn’t speak to me, I didn’t speak to them,” Kawa continued. “I go to bed. I tell you this is all documented. At 11:59 to the tee, I get a phone call. I’m getting blown up by my brother. He’s blowing me up, ‘Hey, bro. Hunter just called me. They want Ilia to fight.’ Called Hunter, said what’s up. ‘We want Ilia to fight.’ I said, ‘Ok, Islam?’

Kawa went on to say that Hunter Campbell informed him of Makhachev’s hand injury at that point. This led to the negotiations being solely for Topuria vs. Gaethje.

“Islam Makhachev was never an actual option,” Kawa said.

Do you think we’ll see Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria before the end of 2026? Join in on the conversation below.