Fan points out injection mark on Islam Makhachev, team provides explanation
Dan Hooker recently shook the MMA world when he accused Islam Makhachev of cheating after his successful title defense against Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 284. 'The Hangman' accused Makhachev of using an intravenous (IV) injection to rehydrate himself after the weigh-ins.
While the lightweight champion's team addressed the allegations, some keen-eyed fans pointed out distinctive marks on Makhachev's arms in photos before the fight. However, the 31-year-old Dagestani's co-manager, Rizvan Magomedov, recently explained these photos.
After a Twitter user posted an image of the marks on Islam Makhachev's arm, Magomedov gave his answer in a quote-tweet. He clarified that the marks resulted from mandatory tests conducted during fight week.
"Mandatory blood test by AUS commission, Wednesday morning right before media and photo shoot. Ask Hooker find the nurse with the commission, she can confirm"
Mandatory blood test by AUS commission, Wednesday morning right before media and photo shoot.
Ask hooker find the nurse with commission, she can confirm twitter.com/mmagggalaa/sta…
The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) banned IV use by UFC athletes in 2019 but made exceptions for those who received an IV “in the course of hospital admissions, surgical procedures or clinical investigations.”
Islam Makhachev retained his title after a grueling five-round fight that earned him a unanimous decision win over featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski in last weekend's UFC main event at the RAC Arena in Perth.
Alexander Volkanovski accused Islam Makhachev of illegal IV usage before Dan Hooker
Alexander Volkanovski's City Kickboxing teammate and long-time friend Dan Hooker recently went on a Twitter tirade against Islam Makhachev. He claimed that the Dagestani fighter privately hired a medical professional to administer the IV fluids.
The 33-year-old Kiwi posted multiple tweets implying that the UFC lightweight champion cheated by using IV drips to rehydrate himself after the weigh-ins. While Makhachev's team duly rubbished the accusations, the matter remains unresolved in the eyes of the wider MMA community.
Read some of the tweets below:
Dumb cunt thinks he can fly to Australia hire a nurse to give him an I.V and we won’t find out. Cheating dog.
Islam is a cheat. twitter.com/mouserat_fan2/…
In a recent interview with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour, Volkanovski discussed his weight during his superfight against Makhachev and jokingly let it slide that his opponent may have used an IV to rehydrate. Interestingly, this interview occurred before 'The Hangman' posted his accusatory tweets.
"178-180lbs. That's what I think he would have been. I've heard that he gets up to like 83kgs. You fuel up pretty quick with IVs and stuff like that... Maybe that's a little shot at him."
Watch the clip below:
Alexander Volkanovski jokes about Makhachev using an IV.
This interview was filmed before the Dan Hooker allegations.
#TheMMAHour https://t.co/dA4ojvDDFx
Additionally, Islam Makhachev tested positive for meldonium back in 2016, a heart medication that increases blood flow. However, the reigning lightweight king was cleared of wrongdoing after a USADA investigation and didn't have to face any sanctions.