Tag: Dan Hooker

Ariel Helwani: ‘USADA’s Reputation Is At Stake After Accusation Against Islam Makhachev’

Longtime mixed martial arts journalist Ariel Helwani believes the “spotlight” is on the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) following Dan Hooker’s recent accusation against Islam Makhachev. This past weekend, Hooker was one of ma…

Longtime mixed martial arts journalist Ariel Helwani believes the “spotlight” is on the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) following Dan Hooker’s recent accusation against Islam Makhachev. This past weekend, Hooker was one of many friends, family members, and teammates in attendance at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, hoping to see Alexander Volkanovski achieve championship…

Continue Reading Ariel Helwani: ‘USADA’s Reputation Is At Stake After Accusation Against Islam Makhachev’ at MMA News.

Islam Makhachev management team denies Dan Hooker cheating allegations: “The guy is a loser.”

islam makhachevRepresentatives of reigning UFC lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev have branded Dan Hooker’s accusations of cheating as untrue. Following the UFC 284 main event between Islam Makhahev and Alexander Volkanovski, potential news emerged that could sully the fight – which was ultimately an excellent bout. Following Makhachev’s first successful defense of his 155lb title, friend and […]

islam makhachev

Representatives of reigning UFC lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev have branded Dan Hooker’s accusations of cheating as untrue.

Following the UFC 284 main event between Islam Makhahev and Alexander Volkanovski, potential news emerged that could sully the fight – which was ultimately an excellent bout.

Following Makhachev’s first successful defense of his 155lb title, friend and teammate of Volkanovski, Dan Hooker, accused Makhachev of cheating. Hooker took to social media and in a series of tweets, claimed that Makhachev used intravenous (IV) therapy to rehydrate following weigh-ins last Friday.

‘Dumb c**t thinks he can fly to Australia hire a nurse to give him an I.V and we won’t find out. Cheating dog.‘

‘Islam is a cheat.’

The use of an IV is illegal under UFC’s rules according to their testing agency, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). Makhachev looked visibly affected by the weight cut, appearing literally ill and becoming emotional after making the 155lb limit.

Islam Makhachev and team respond

A member of Makhachev’s management team, Rizan Magomedov recently spoke to MMAJunkie, blowing off the accusations.

“We all know this is completely BS,” Magomedov said. “The guy is a loser. He’s salty and just looking for attention, and that’s it.”

‘Mandatory blood test by AUS commission, Wednesday morning right before media and photo shoot. Ask hooker find the nurse with commission, she can confirm.’- Magomedov

Hooker and Makhachev faced one another back in October of 2021, with the latter making quick and easy work of ‘The Hangman’, locking in a kimura in the first round.

If it’s true, what should Islam Makhachev’s punishment be?

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.