Editorial

Dan Hooker Claims Islam Makhachev Cheated By Taking Illegal IV, Makhachev Claps Back While UFC Clarifies Rules

(Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Andrew Powell Sports and Entertainment Blogger
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After this, I want to see Dan Hooker and Islam Makhachev fight.

UFC fighter Dan Hooker, the teammate of Alexander Volkanovski, hit reigning UFC lightweight champ Islam Makhachev with allegations of cheating after Makhachev allegedly took an intravenous injection of fluids to rehydrate ahead of his Feb. 11 victory over Volkanovski. Makhachev won the close fight by unanimous decision.

“Islam is a cheat. He doesn’t cheat, he doesn’t win. Prove me wrong. Bet cha can’t,” Hooker tweeted Feb. 13. “Dumb c*nt thinks he can fly to Australia, hire a nurse to give him an IV and we won’t find out. Cheating dog.”

Shortly after Hooker blasted out the allegations, Makhachev’s co-manager Ali Abdelaziz fired back, claiming in a since-deleted tweet that “any fighter under the UFC banner can take 2-3 liters of IV as long as it’s done by a nurse or professional.”

Fast forward to Feb. 16 and now Makhachev has gotten in the mix:

And he has the evidence too, via UFC Senior VP of Athlete Health and Performance Jeff Novitzky:

It appears that Islam Makhachev is in the clear with UFC rules, but what I wanna know … what did he mean by Dan Hooker had to be held accountable for his accusations? Are we talking lawsuits here, or an ass-whooping?

I’m personally hoping for the latter … just start selling the Hooker vs. Makhachev pay-per-views now. (RELATED: David Haye Appears To Confirm Una Healy And Sian Osborne ‘Throuple’ With Valentine’s Day Post)

You have a sale over here, UFC.