News Tries
- One of many largest UFC fights of all time could also be mired in controversy.
- Dan Hooker stated Islam Makhachev might have used an unlawful technique forward of Saturday’s UFC 284 occasion.
- Hooker made these claims on Twitter with out offering any proof.
One of the crucial necessary fights in UFC historical past is shrouded in controversy as star light-weight Dan Hooker accused pound-for-pound No. 1 fighter Islam Makhachev of utilizing an unlawful tactic forward of their newest bout.
Makhachev flew to Perth, Australia, to headline Saturday’s UFC 284 occasion towards UFC featherweight reigning Alexander Volkanovsky.
UFC President Dana White advised Insider forward of the present that it was the primary time in historical past that the No. 1 on the roster was going to struggle the No. 2 when each rivals had been arguably on the peak of their powers.
The struggle itself didn’t disappoint as followers on the RAC Enviornment, and these watching the ESPN pay-per-view at residence, had been handled to extremely expert exchanges between two of the highest athletes in fight sports activities Went.
Finally it was a battle that Makhachev misplaced. Nevertheless, Hooker tweeted after the incident that the Russian wrestler used an IV to assist him re-hydrate after lacking weight.
That is towards the foundations of blended martial arts after UFC’s anti-doping accomplice USADA outlawed it in 2015.
Makhachev “thinks he can fly to Australia, hire a nurse to give him an IV, and we won’t know,” New Zealand’s hooker said on Monday without giving evidence, “Cheating Dog.”
He added in a separate tweet: “He doesn’t cheat, he doesn’t win,” apparently referring to the mega-fight towards Volkanovsky.
-Dan Hangman Hooker (@danthehangman) February 13, 2023
One in every of Hooker’s followers requested whom he was speaking about, and he particularly stated: “Islam is a hoax.”
Rizvan Magomedov, one in all Makhachev’s managers, categorically denied the allegations. mma junkie in an announcement.
Magomedov stated, “We all know this is complete BS.” “The guy’s a loser. He’s salty and just looking for attention, and that’s all.”
Volkanovsky stated the identical in an obvious joke
Islam Makhachev and Alexander Volkanovsky.
Photograph by Getty Photos
In an interview filmed earlier than Hooker tweeted his claims, Volkanovsky appeared to say one thing much like Ariel Helwani. MMA Fighting’s MMA Hour Show,
In response to a query about what he thought Makhachev weighed on the evening of the struggle, after rehydrating, Volkanovsky stated: “I hear he gets to 180.”
Somebody off-camera seems to say one thing to Volkanovski, who then raises one in all his eyebrows, saying: “You fill up too quickly after IVs, and things like that.”
Though Makhachev received the struggle, there may very well be a second shot on the championship in one other weight class for Volkanovsky, as there may be speak of a rematch.
It’s unclear, nonetheless, if a do-over shall be booked immediately, or if Volkanovsky should work his method as much as Makhachev at light-weight, defending his personal title at featherweight first.