Tag: Dan Hooker

Alexander Volkanovski refers to Islam Makhachev’s alleged IV use, comments on potential rematch

Alexander Volkanovski, Islam Makhachev, Dan HookerAlexander Volkanovski shared small insight into the alleged use of an intravenous line by his former opponent Islam Makhachev. During an appearance on The MMA Hour, the Australia native discussed his thoughts on Makhavev’s weight on fight night then hinted at Makhachev using an IV to rehydrate after his weight cut to 155 pounds.  Volkanovski’s […]

Alexander Volkanovski, Islam Makhachev, Dan Hooker

Alexander Volkanovski shared small insight into the alleged use of an intravenous line by his former opponent Islam Makhachev.

During an appearance on The MMA Hour, the Australia native discussed his thoughts on Makhavev’s weight on fight night then hinted at Makhachev using an IV to rehydrate after his weight cut to 155 pounds. 

Volkanovski’s teammate Dan Hooker took to social media today and spoke about how Makhachev allegedly hired a nurse to provide an IV for rehydration. He went on to call the 155-pound champion a “cheater”. Makhachev successfully defended his lightweight title against Volkanovski this past weekend at UFC 284. 

Volkanovki’s interview was taped before Hooker’s comments. 

“Yeah, 178, 180 [pounds] I think [Islam Makhachev] would’ve been. I heard he gets up to 180, like 83 kilograms close to it. You fill up pretty quick on the IV’s and stuff like that…Maybe that’s a little shot at him.”

The UFC have not responded to the allegations. 

Alexander Volkanovski is Confident He’ll Beat Islam Makhachev in a Rematch 

With another opportunity, the 145-champion Volkanovski believes he’ll defeat Makhachev and become a double champion. It was his first loss since May 2013. 

“I don’t want to be that guy but if he was just a featherweight in my division, I’d squash him. I’d squash him. It’s a walk in the park. No offense to him but that’s legit and I can make this a walk in the park right now. We fight again and we do this rematch, which…I talked about it, Islam talked about, UFC’s talking about it, and everyone else is talking about it so I think we can make that happen. I don’t need him to be a featherweight…He can get as big as he wants, IV, whatever he does it doesn’t matter. Watch what happens next time.”

Watch | Israel Adesanya’s emotional reaction to Alexander Volkanovski’s UFC 284 loss

Isreal Adesanya, Dan HookerFormer middleweight king Israel Adesanya, as well as teammate Dan Hooker, were captured on camera as teammate Alexander Volkanovski was on the wrong end of a heartbreaking decision loss to Islam Makhachev. The pair were in attendance to support the aforementioned Volkanovski in his bid to become a two-weight world champion. While many expected Makhachev […]

Isreal Adesanya, Dan Hooker

Former middleweight king Israel Adesanya, as well as teammate Dan Hooker, were captured on camera as teammate Alexander Volkanovski was on the wrong end of a heartbreaking decision loss to Islam Makhachev.

israel adesanya
AP Photo/John Locher, File

The pair were in attendance to support the aforementioned Volkanovski in his bid to become a two-weight world champion. While many expected Makhachev to be too strong for the pint-sized powerhouse from down under, nothing could be further from the truth. Makhachev did manage to implement his heavy, wrestling-based strategy, but each time, Volkanovski made it back to his feet and nearly knocked out the Dagestan delegate in the closing minute.

This though, made it all the more difficult for both the revenge-seeking Adesanya, who fights Alex Pereria in a rematch that will be legacy-defining for “Stylebender” to watch. Dan Hooker, who is currently out of action due to an arm injury, also grimaced at his teammates’ misfortune.

Israel Adesanya devastated by Buffer’s ”And Still” call

Both of the CKB fighters looked fairly confident, jovial even, as they awaited the, in their minds, already foregone conclusion of the evening that would instill Alexander Volkanovski as the 155lb champion, and solidify his “pound for pound” number one spot.

As the legendary Bruce Buffer announced “and still”, all joy drained from the Oceanic majority in the crowd. Their hero for the evening was robbed of his crowning glory. Israel Adesanya sinks into his seat with his head in his hands, as Dan Hooker loudly exclaims “What The F**k was that?”, apparently bemused at the judge’s scorecards. The clip then cuts to Volkanovski’s post-fight speech, which appears to leave Israel Adesanya in tears, or at least very close to it.

The member of the team that seems to have accepted the news best is the man who actually lost the fight. Alexander Volkanovski seems unwavering in his will to be the best, only more determined to continue to prove he is one of the all-time greats. With Yair Rodriguez defeating Josh Emmett so soundly, he will be next in line at 145 lbs. Islam Makhachev though is still firmly within Volkanovski’s line of sight.

MMAMarcus shared the clip of Israel Adesanya’s reaction to Twitter.

Who do you think wins the rematch between Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereria?

Islam Makhachev responds to cheating claims from Dan Hooker following UFC 284: ‘Australia, are you upset?’

Islam Makhachev UFC 284 Dan Hooker CheatUndisputed UFC lightweight champion appears to have responded to claims from former opponent, Dan Hooker that he cheated ahead of his UFC 284 title fight with Alexander Volkanovski – with the Auckland striker claiming Makhachev had used an illegal intravenous drip to help in the rehydration process.  Makhachev, the undisputed lightweight champion, headlined UFC 284 […]

Islam Makhachev UFC 284 Dan Hooker Cheat

Undisputed UFC lightweight champion appears to have responded to claims from former opponent, Dan Hooker that he cheated ahead of his UFC 284 title fight with Alexander Volkanovski – with the Auckland striker claiming Makhachev had used an illegal intravenous drip to help in the rehydration process. 

Makhachev, the undisputed lightweight champion, headlined UFC 284 last Saturday in Perth, Australia against Hooker’s training partner, undisputed featherweight best, Volkanovski, successfully defending his lightweight crown in a competitive unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46) triumph. 

The victory came as American Kickboxing Academy staple, Islam Makhachev’s twelfth consecutively, following a prior lightweight title win over former champion, Charles Oliveira last October in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Dan Hooker slams cheating accusation on UFC champion, Islam Makhachev

However, in the aftermath of Saturday’s main event clash, Hooker, a past foe of Islam Makhachev, claimed the latter had utilized an illegal method to help in the rehydration process following Friday’s official weigh-in – claiming Makhachev hired a nurse upon arrival in Australia to administer an IV drip.

Hooker’s unfounded claims would see Makhachev face sanctions if proven true, however, with fighters under the UFC banner facing a minimum of two-years suspended if they utilize an IV drip to help rehydrate following weigh-ins.

“Dumb c*nt thinks he (Islam Makhachev) can fly to Australia hire a nurse to give him an I.V and we won’t find out.” Dan Hooker tweeted. “Cheating dog.”

Appearing to respond to Hooker’s claims, Makhachev posted a video on his official Instagram story alongside members of his team – chanting “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi” – with the post captioned with, “Australia, are you upset? But I told you will (sic).” 

Fighting back in October 2021 on ‘Fight Island’, Makhachev managed to land a dominant first round submission victory over Hooker – stopping the City Kickboxing staple with a kimura in the first frame.

Dan Hooker accuses Islam Makhachev of utilizing illegal IV to rehydrate ahead of UFC 284, labels him ‘Cheating dog’

Dan Hooker Islam Makhachev UFC 284 CheatingUFC lightweight contender, Dan Hooker has pointed a serious accusation against division champion, Islam Makhachev following his successful title defense against teammate, Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 284 on Saturday – claiming the Russian utilized an IV (intravenous) drip in order to aid his rehydration following Friday’s weigh-ins. Makhachev, the current undisputed lightweight champion, successfully made […]

Dan Hooker Islam Makhachev UFC 284 Cheating

UFC lightweight contender, Dan Hooker has pointed a serious accusation against division champion, Islam Makhachev following his successful title defense against teammate, Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 284 on Saturday – claiming the Russian utilized an IV (intravenous) drip in order to aid his rehydration following Friday’s weigh-ins.

Makhachev, the current undisputed lightweight champion, successfully made weight for his UFC 284 lightweight title fight with featherweight titleholder, Volkanovski during Friday’s official weigh-ins in Perth, Australia, before headlining UFC 284 the following night.

Securing a unanimous decision victory in a hard-fought main event clash against Volkanovski at the RAC Arena, Makhachev managed to land his staggering twelfth consecutive victory, and landed his first title defense since defeating Charles Oliveira back in October of last year.

Dan Hooker launches scathing accusation aimed at lightweight best, Islam Makhachev

However, according to Auckland native, Hooker, a training partner of Volkanovski, Makhachev had hired a nurse in Australia, and utilized an intravenous drip to aid in his rehydration process following his UFC 284 weigh-ins – labelling the Russian a “cheating dog”.

“Dumb c*nt thinks he (Islam Makhachev) can fly to Australia hire a nurse to give him an I.V and we won’t find out.” Dan Hooker tweeted. “Cheating dog.”

Hooker then claimed that anti-doping agency USADA were “doing f*ck all” in relation to maintaining a clean sport, with fighters facing a minimum two-year suspension if they utilize intravenous drips to rehydrate following weigh-ins.

“USADA doing f*ck all,” Dan Hooker tweeted.

“Prove me wrong,” Dan Hooker tweeted. “Bet cha (sic) can’t.”

Hooker then claimed that if Makhachev allegedly didn’t “cheat’ during his rehydration process ahead of UFC 284, he simply would not have defeated teammate, Volkanovski.

“He (Islam Makhachev) doesn’t cheat, he doesn’t win,” Dan Hooker tweeted.

When questioned on social media as to who he was referring to, Hooker named Makhachev, labelling him as a “cheat” once more.

“Islam is a cheat,” Dan Hooker tweeted. 

Himself facing Makhachev back in October 2021 at UFC 267 in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Hooker, the current #11 ranked contender suffered a one-sided first round kimura submission loss to the current lightweight champion.

Dan Hooker Accuses “Cheating Dog” Of Banned Practice Pre-UFC 284

UFC lightweight Dan Hooker has made some serious accusations following this past weekend’s UFC 284 pay-per-view. On Saturday, the promotion culminated a return Down Under with an event from Perth’s RAC Arena. Throughout the card, a number o…

UFC lightweight Dan Hooker has made some serious accusations following this past weekend’s UFC 284 pay-per-view. On Saturday, the promotion culminated a return Down Under with an event from Perth’s RAC Arena. Throughout the card, a number of Oceanic natives wee in action, most notably in the main event. Headlining was featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski,…

Continue Reading Dan Hooker Accuses “Cheating Dog” Of Banned Practice Pre-UFC 284 at MMA News.

Dan Hooker Theorizes Why The UFC Booked Charles Oliveira vs. Michael Chandler: ‘Bidding War’

Michael Chandler had been sitting out to fight Conor McGregor for nearly two years. However, with uncertainty still surrounding that matchup, he’s moved on to face Charles Oliveira at UFC 309 in a five-round co-main event. Chandler and Oliveira previously fought at UFC 262 for lightweight gold, which was the former’s second fight in the […]

Continue Reading Dan Hooker Theorizes Why The UFC Booked Charles Oliveira vs. Michael Chandler: ‘Bidding War’ at MMA News.

Michael Chandler had been sitting out to fight Conor McGregor for nearly two years. However, with uncertainty still surrounding that matchup, he’s moved on to face Charles Oliveira at UFC 309 in a five-round co-main event.

Chandler and Oliveira previously fought at UFC 262 for lightweight gold, which was the former’s second fight in the UFC. “Do Bronxs” almost got knocked out in the first but bounced back by finishing “Iron” early in the second.

Top five UFC lightweight Dan Hooker is also close to a title shot following his win over Mateusz Gamrot. The fan-favorite brawler has an interesting theory on why the UFC has booked Oliveira and Chandler and how it benefits the promotion to have multiple contenders…

Dan Hooker Calls Charles Oliveira vs. Michael Chandler A Weird Fight But Understands Why The UFC Booked It

Hooker discussed the highly anticipated lightweight matchup between Chandler and Oliveira during an interview on the Submission Radio YouTube channel recently. He didn’t initially seem too excited about the booking but also revealed why it makes sense for the UFC.

According to “The Hangman”, the UFC wouldn’t want Arman Tsarukyan to be the only title contender at lightweight for financial reasons. Negotiating with a fighter is harder if they’re the only obvious choice to fight for any division’s title, not just lightweight.

So, by booking Oliveira and Chandler for UFC 309, the UFC is looking to get another potential lightweight title contender. Meanwhile, Hooker can solidify a title shot too after winning his next fight. This way, the UFC will have three contenders for the belt and instead of rigid negotiations, the promotion can initiate a bidding war between the three.

“Yeah, I still think it’s Arman next and then, I feel like it’s such a. I can see why the UFC’s kind of matching the fights that they’re matching these fights is because they want options, right? Because if there’s just, if there’s just one guy that’s like head and shoulders next in line for the title and it’s set in stone, then, obviously, negotiating becomes very difficult for them because they’re like everyone expects this fight, the pressure’s on the UFC to make this fight so obviously, the bloke can ask for a s**t ton more money.”

“The Hangman” then explained how the situation mentioned above can be neutralized by having multiple contenders:

“If the UFC matches a bunch of fights and gets like three or four contenders and no one’s really sure about who’s next. Then, like, it becomes like just a bit of a bidding war between the fighters. So, I get why the UFC is doing it the way they’re doing it is because they want as many guys that make sense for the title as they possibly can. So, yeah, Chandler gets by him, you know, I win my next fight, then you got three guys that have like justification for getting a title shot.”

Despite it being obvious to most fans, the UFC hasn’t booked Islam Makhachev against Tsarukyan because of the champion’s injury. The lightweight kingpin is expected to return by the end of 2024 or early 2025, and getting a couple more contenders by then seems like the best-case scenario for the promotion, according to Hooker’s theory.

Continue Reading Dan Hooker Theorizes Why The UFC Booked Charles Oliveira vs. Michael Chandler: ‘Bidding War’ at MMA News.