- Dan Hooker called Islam Makhachev a “cheat” as he accuses the lightweight champ of using I.V. to rehydrate at UFC 284
- “The Hangman” challenged everybody to prove him wrong about his accusations
Shortly after Islam Makhachev’s epic win at UFC 284, lightweight contender Dan Hooker alleged that he cheated after the weigh-ins. Hooker is Alexander Volkanovski’s City Kickboxing teammate who also fought Makhachev in the past.
It was I.V.
On Twitter, “The Hangman” did not mince his words as he lashed out at Makhachev for allegedly using an I.V. bag of fluids to recuperate from dehydration caused by drastic weight-cutting.
“Dumb c*nt thinks he can fly to Australia hire a nurse to give him an I.V and we won’t find out. Cheating dog,” Hooker wrote on Twitter.
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 followed it up with another feisty tweet. This time, it was aimed at USADA, suggesting that the organization has been terrible at handling such cases.
“USADA doing f*ck all,” Hooker tweeted along with a screenshot of a 2015 article about the UFC banning the use of I.V. for rehydration.
USADA doing fuck all. pic.twitter.com/ilJplHsh9h
— Dan Hangman Hooker (@danthehangman) February 13, 2023
Hooker even challenges all concerned to step up if they can prove him wrong about his claim.
“Prove me wrong. Bet cha can’t,” he concluded.
Prove me wrong. Bet cha can’t.
— Dan Hangman Hooker (@danthehangman) February 13, 2023
To conclude his tirade, Hooker finally called Makhachev a “cheat.”
Islam is a cheat. https://t.co/bIdk13C26P
— Dan Hangman Hooker (@danthehangman) February 13, 2023
He doesn’t cheat, he doesn’t win.
— Dan Hangman Hooker (@danthehangman) February 13, 2023
Hooker’s accusations may have been strengthen by the fact that Makhachev barely made 155 pounds during weigh-ins and had to completely strip to do so. Also, it can be recalled that Bobby Green, who is also Makhachev’s former foe had accused him and his fellow Russian fighters of PED usage.
However, it is said that USADA has developed a procedure for detecting if there was any I.V. tubing that had occurred before fights. However, there hasn’t been proof of its effectiveness at this point.
Aside from being teammates with Volkanovski, Hooker also faced Makhachev in the past where he lost via first-round submission.
Controversial win
In the UFC, more often than not, there’s a controversy whenever a massive fight boils down to judges’ decision. As expected, Makhachev’s unanimous decision win over Volkanovski was no exception.
The smoke has already settled but many are still buzzing about the Dagestani fighter’s historic victory as some say Volk should’ve gotten the win. The victory over “The Great” saw Makhachev improving his unbeaten UFC streak to 11 in a row.
Volkanovski is looking for a rematch but is likely to face interim featherweight champions Yair Rodriguez next, while Makhachev is expected to land a big-name lightweight title challenger in his next fight.
