Dan Hooker has made a serious accusation against lightweight champion Islam Makhachev coming out of UFC 284.
Makhachev (24-1 MMA, 13-1 UFC) retained his title with a grueling five-round decision win over featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski in this past Saturday’s (Sunday locally) main event at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia. Hooker, who was in Perth to support City Kickboxing teammate Volkanovski (25-2 MMA, 12-1 UFC), believes Makhachev broke U.S. Anti-Doping Agency rules to give himself an unfair advantage heading into the fight.
Makhachev looked gaunt when he successfully made championship weight, needing to strip down completely to hit 155 pounds. Hooker, who was quickly submitted by Makhachev at UFC 257, says he has proof that Makhachev used intravenous (IV) therapy to replenish after weigh-ins, which has been an illegal practice since USADA was introduced as the UFC’s anti-doping partner in late 2015.
USADA bans IV infusions and/or injections, making an exception only for those who received an IV “in the course of hospital admissions, surgical procedures or clinical investigations.”
Hooker’s tweets about Makhachev can be seen below.
Hooker says team found out Makhachev used an IV
Dumb cunt thinks he can fly to Australia hire a nurse to give him an I.V and we won’t find out. Cheating dog.
— Dan Hangman Hooker (@danthehangman) February 13, 2023
Hooker calls out USADA
USADA doing fuck all. pic.twitter.com/ilJplHsh9h
— Dan Hangman Hooker (@danthehangman) February 13, 2023
Hooker backs up claim
Prove me wrong. Bet cha can’t.
— Dan Hangman Hooker (@danthehangman) February 13, 2023
Hooker calls Makhachev 'a cheat'
He doesn’t cheat, he doesn’t win.
— Dan Hangman Hooker (@danthehangman) February 13, 2023
Islam is a cheat. https://t.co/bIdk13C26P
— Dan Hangman Hooker (@danthehangman) February 13, 2023
