Dana White Denies Rumors of Makhachev vs. Topuria Fight for UFC White House Card

UFC president says Makhachev is dealing with hand injury, Topuria wasn't originally scheduled for the event.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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After the UFC White House card was announced, rumors began swirling that the main event was supposed to be a champ vs. champ fight between lightweight champion Ilia Topuria and welterweight champion Islam Makhachev. However, UFC president Dana White emphatically denied those rumors, stating that the fight was never in the works and that Makhachev is currently dealing with a hand injury that would have made him unavailable for the event. White also revealed that Topuria wasn't originally scheduled to be on the White House card.

Why it matters

The UFC White House card is a highly anticipated event, and fans were eager to see a potential superfight between two of the promotion's top champions. White's denial of the Makhachev vs. Topuria rumors helps clarify the actual lineup for the card and the reasons behind the changes.

The details

During the Zuffa Boxing 4 post-fight press conference, Dana White said the fight between Topuria and Makhachev was "not true" and that Makhachev is currently dealing with "hand issues" that would have kept him out of the White House card. White also revealed that Topuria wasn't originally scheduled to be on the card, but ended up getting the call after a different fight fell through at the last minute.

  • The UFC White House card was announced over the weekend.
  • The UFC 326 event took place on Saturday, March 9, 2026.
  • The Zuffa Boxing 4 post-fight press conference was held on Sunday, March 10, 2026.

The players

Dana White

The president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

Ilia Topuria

The current UFC lightweight champion.

Justin Gaethje

The interim UFC lightweight champion.

Islam Makhachev

The current UFC welterweight champion.

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What they’re saying

“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.”

— Dana White, UFC President (MMA Fighting)

“He's got some hand issues. 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.”

— Dana White, UFC President (MMA Fighting)

What’s next

The UFC will move forward with the announced lightweight title unification fight between champion Ilia Topuria and interim champ Justin Gaethje as the main event of the UFC White House card on June 14, 2026.

The takeaway

Dana White's comments help clarify the actual lineup for the highly anticipated UFC White House card, dispelling rumors of a potential superfight between champions Ilia Topuria and Islam Makhachev. The event will instead feature a lightweight title unification bout between Topuria and interim champ Justin Gaethje, with Makhachev sidelined due to a hand injury.