Islam Makhachev and Dan Hooker’s bad blood is nothing new in the realm of MMA. The two fighters have been at odds since their bout, and this tension escalated with Hooker sparking the IV controversy. The lightweight champion has faced accusations of using an IV just before his fight at UFC 284 to replenish the weight he had to cut down.
Dan Hooker was the first fighter to make these accusations, but they were later proven to be false. Despite the clarification, people continue to accuse Makhachev of such malpractice, leading the fighter to express frustration over these baseless allegations.
Islam Makhachev’s one-line response to IV Accusations
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Islam Makhachev showcased a new level of dominance at UFC 267, effortlessly dispatching top lightweight contender Dan Hooker. The lightweight champion nearly broke Hooker’s arm with a brutal kimura submission, further solidifying his impressive nine-fight winning streak. This was one of the prime reasons for the animosity between them.
Islam Makhachev’s dominance has been questioned due to the use of IV. Dan Hooker accused the fighter of using heavy doses of IV after the weigh-ins for Makhachev’s first fight against Alexander Volkanovski. The champion has always been silent on the accusations but seems like he has had enough. Makhachev took to Twitter to add a statement and the Reddit community got a hold of it. They gave their hilarious response to Makhachev’s one-line “My IV bag” caption on a snap from the Hooker vs. Makhachev fight. Some of the comments by the fans are as follows.
“I remember when he fought Hooker and Charles and he said, “I didn’t even have to shower after the fight.” Savage”
“Lol Dan and Bobby both the most salty mfs after Islam ran through them both in less than 6 minutes combined”
“This kinda cold ngl”
“FATALITY”
“Damn can these guys stop beating my favorite fighters I wanna like them lol”
“With context, Hooker was game enough to take an immediate ppv short turn-around against a terrible match up at Islam’s “home crowd”, madness.”
“Ali wildin”
It can be understood from the reactions of the fans that they are not amused by Hooker’s constant accusations. Fans add that the response given by Makhachev was on point. However, why did Hooker put forth such a grave accusation of Makhachev? Did the lightweight champ use IV?
Jeff Novitzky’s claims on Makhachev’s IV controversy
After the controversy took flame, the UFC’s Senior VP of Athlete Health and Performance Jeff Novitzky had to step in to clarify the use of IV in the UFC. Novitzky took to Twitter (now X) to explain his reasonings. He shared a long thread of tweets where he shared all the information for the use of some drugs for the betterment of the fighter.
UFC Anti-Doping Program’s (UFC ADP) IV rule was modified in 2019. Athletes, managers and support have rec’d multiple advisories on this rule change beginning in 2019. All UFC ADP rules have been publicly posted since 2015. The IV rule advisories included the following:
— Jeff Novitzky (@JeffNovitzkyUFC) February 16, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
“UFC Anti-Doping Program’s (UFC ADP) IV rule was modified in 2019Athletes, managers and support have rec’d multiple advisories on this rule change beginning in 2019. All UFC ADP rules have been publicly posted since 2015.” Novitzky explained. He proceeded ͏to clarify the precise language surrounding IVs, outlining situations where a therapeuti͏c use exempti͏on (TUE) is ͏unnecessar͏y. A TUE is a certificat͏ion confirming ͏that a substance is being given to an athlete for medical reasons rather than for enhancing performance.
Watch This Story: “My Go-To Line”: Hulk Hogan Reveals the Catchphrase That Would Come to Bite Him in the Back
Put simply, the use of intravenous (IV) fluids can be a legitimate method to address dehydration after a weight cut, as long as a qualified doctor has deemed it necessary and oversees the process. In the case of UFC 284 fight week, if a licensed medical professional has justified and administered the IV for Makhachev, it wouldn’t be considered a violation.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
A few years ago the use of IV was permitted by the promotion till USADA came into the picture. However, things changed when USADA prohibited the use of more than 50 milliliters, which is less than two ounces, in any six hours.
