Islam Makhachev has denied claims he used an illegal IV drip to rehydrate before his UFC 284 victory over Alexander Volkanovski.
Makhachev, 31, made the first defence of his lightweight title against featherweight champion Volkanovski in Perth, Australia this past weekend. Volkanovski was moving up to lightweight for the first time in his UFC career and was attempting to become just the fifth double-champ in promotional history by capturing Makhachev's belt, but the Russian edged out his rival by scores 48-47, 48-47 and 49-46.
Volkanovski's teammate Dan Hooker has since accused the lightweight champion of using an IV after weighing in for the fight, a rehydration procedure that is strictly banned under UFC rules. "Dumb c*** thinks he can fly to Australia hire a nurse to give him an I.V and we won’t find out. Cheating dog," Hooker wrote.
