UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev has had a fantastic run to his belt, but his famed winning streak could have started a lot earlier had he not tested positive for a banned substance in 2016.
The Russian fighter defeated Charles Oliveira back in October to take the lightweight belt, as well as the No.2 spot on the promotion's pound-for-pound list. And tonight in Perth, he faces featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski in hopes of taking the Australian's No.1 spot from him.
And despite having a seemingly clean run to the title with his 11-fight streak of victories, it hasn't come easy for Makhachev outside of the cage, with the Russian failing a drug test ahead of his third UFC fight. He was due to face Drew Dober on April 16, but at the weigh-ins a day prior he was informed that he had tested positive for a banned substance called meldonium.
