Team Makhachev Responds to Team Volkanovski's Cheating Accusations
Recently, just after Islam Makhachev defeated Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 284, he and his teammate Dan Hooker have come out with accusations against Makhachev for using an I.V. to rehydrate post-weigh-ins to gain an advantage during the fight illegally.
The claim was not given any backing or proof from Hooker or Volkanovski, and both fighters have received online backlash for the unexpected remarks. However, a popular support point from their fans was a small pink mark on Makhachev's forearm, distinctly reminiscent of a needle injection site.
Others quickly denied any reasoning behind such claims, as a rehydration I.V. Would be used after weigh-ins, not before, which would detriment the weight cut and cause a decrease in performance ability.
Fans and fighters continued to speculate until Makhachev's manager, Rizvan Magomedov, released a statement on Twitter:
He was later asked what the small mark on Makhachev's arm suggesting a needle injection point was. He had this to say:
As of the time of writing, Team Volkanovski has not responded to Rizvan or the media and has yet to back up any claims made.
What do you make of the situation? Do you believe there's substance behind the Aussies' words? Let us know in the comments below.
