Islam Makhachev’s team has denied Dan Hooker’s claim that the UFC lightweight champion used an IV to rehydrate after weighing in for his UFC 284 main event with Alexander Volkanovski.
On Saturday night Islam Makhachev secured his spot as number-one on the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings thanks to a close, though still impressive,decision win over Alexander Volkanovski. The win also saw him defend his UFC lightweight title for the first time.
In the aftermath of Makhachev’s (24-1 MMA, 13-1 UFC) unanimous decision win over Volkanovski (25-2 MMA, 12-1 UFC) in Saturday’s champion-vs.-champion showdown at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, City Kickboxing fighter and Volkanovski teammate Hooker made a hefty accusation toward “cheating dog” Makhachev.
Hooker accused Makhachev of using intravenous (IV) therapy to replenish after weigh-ins, which is an illegal practice under the rules put forth by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), the UFC’s longtime drug testing partner.
USADA bans IV infusions and/or injections, making an exception only for those who received an IV “in the course of hospital admissions, surgical procedures or clinical investigations.”
Makhachev’s co-manager, Rizvan Magomedov, issued a response to MMA Junkie and denied any wrongdoing by the fighter. “We all know this is completely BS,” Magomedov said. “The guy is a loser. He’s salty and just looking for attention, and that’s it.”
