Startling 'cheating' claim emerges from Aussie's loss

1 year ago 80

Lightweight champion Islam Makhachev is simply a "cheating dog" according to UFC prima Dan Hooker, who claims the Russian utilized an intravenous (IV) infusion to assistance him rehydrate before his combat against Alexander Volkanovski.

In the main lawsuit of UFC 284, Makhachev defended his 155-pound loop with a unanimous determination (48-47, 48-47, 49-46) to prevail successful a five-round slugfest.

The 31-year-old besides took the rubric of champion pound-for-pound combatant from the Australian Volkanovski, who saw his 22-win streak ended.

"People volition telephone maine not conscionable 'champ', but 'best combatant successful the world'. I'm precise happy," said the Russian who was jeered passim the combat by a sold-out 13,000 assemblage astatine RAC Arena.

While the judges ruled Makhachev won each round, Volkanovski said aft the combat helium felt helium won three. Now, Hooker, his teammate from City Kickboxing gym successful Auckland, has made the sensational assertion the Russian utilized an IV drip to rehydrate aft what seemed similar a hard value cut.

Going into the fight, an affectional Makhachev had to afloat portion disconnected connected the scales for the weigh-in. He reportedly had tears successful his eyes erstwhile helium made weight, highlighting the strain helium had enactment connected his assemblage to get down.

The US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), arsenic the authoritative anti-doping bureau for the UFC, banned the usage of IV drips for fighters to rehydrate, leaving Hooker furious implicit claims Makhachev hired a caregiver successful Perth to springiness him a drip to assistance the betterment process.

Hooker took to Twitter but did not notation Makhachev by sanction initially earlier unloading connected the lightweight champion.

"Dumb c---- thinks helium tin alert to Australia to prosecute a caregiver to springiness him an I.V and we won't find out," Hooker wrote. "Cheating dog."

In travel up tweets, Hooker responded to chatter from followers, saying "prove maine wrong", earlier adding: "He doesn't cheat, helium doesn't win."

When asked who was astatine the centre of his accusations, Hooker wrote: "Islam is simply a cheat."

Fighters who are caught utilizing IV attraction look imaginable two-year bans from the UFC.

Brazilian prima Paulo Costa, was suspended for six months successful April 2019 aft helium was caught utilizing an IV drip.

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