Alexander Volkanovski vs Islam Makhachev fight preview, bad blood, cheating, IV use, interview, latest

ABU DHABI — Islam Makhachev has described allegations that he used an IV in Australia earlier this year as “bull…” – and suggested Alexander Volkanovski was only in Abu Dhabi to collect money – while growing tension between the two men has also seen them caught up in an affair. Awkward hotel exchange here in Abu Dhabi.

With just days until their UFC 294 headliner at Etihad Stadium, tensions continue to rise between the two UFC champions and their respective teams.

One of the biggest controversies focused on previous allegations from Team Volkanovski that Makhachev illegally used an IV to help rehydrate after an arduous weight loss following their first meeting in February.

Speaking at the UFC Fighters Hotel on Wednesday, Makhachev vigorously denied the allegations while also paying his respects to the UFC featherweight champion and the team.

The UFC lightweight champion also questioned both Volkanovski’s knockout power and motivations for fighting – suggesting the Australian wasn’t looking to inherit a legacy as he claimed, but to get money quickly.

UFC 294: Makhachev vs. Volkanovski 2 | SUN 22 OCT 5am AEDT | Order now with the Main Event on Kayo Sports

Volkanovski, meanwhile, revealed that he and Makhachev were involved in an awkward encounter at the UFC hotel earlier Tuesday, joking that the Dagestani bogeyman tried to “nasty assault” him. So, what did the Windang warrior think?

“Dude, you’re not going to intimidate me,” Volkanovski smiled.

“Let’s remember how I left that last fight…I remember slamming your head through the canvas.”

As revealed by Fox Sports Australia this week, Volkanovski’s team has urged UFC officials to put “safeguards” in place to ensure there is no repeat of the IV saga which surrounded the duo’s first fight in February.

As Makhachev defended his title by decision at UFC 284 in Perth, all headlines subsequently focused on claims the Dagestani had illegally rehydrated via an IV drip after an arduous weight cut.

Dan Hooker, Volkanovski’s teammate, even tweeted: “Dumb C… thinks he can fly to Australia to hire a nurse to give him an IV and we won’t know.”

Although Volkanovski refused to get drawn into the situation this week, he spoke out generally about cheaters in the UFC, calling any fighter who did so “a really coward.”

When asked about the allegations surrounding his opening victory against Volkanovski in Australia, Makhachev categorically denied the claims.

“I know some bulls… guys who want to cause drama,” he said.

“But if you’re a professional fighter, if you say something, you have to back it up.

“You can’t say something – he used an IV or something – if you don’t have any proof.”

Asked if he had seen Makhachev around the hotel following the growing tension between the two men, Volkanovski replied: “Actually one thing happened yesterday, I don’t know if He was trying to attack me, but he was looking at me, trying to hurt me.

“But it’s going to be quite difficult.

“Let’s remember how I left that last fight…(you) trying to do everything you can to save your life. I remember hitting your head through a web.

“So to intimidate me, it’s going to be difficult.

“Maybe he was watching me? Maybe he didn’t realize I was there?

” I don’t know.

“But I wasn’t intimidated.”

Separately, Makachev also responded to Volkanovski’s claims in various media outlets this week that, if the roles had been reversed, the Dagestanis would not have stepped up and agreed to this fight.

“If the UFC told him to bring his belt to Abu Dhabi, he would never take it,” Makhachev said of the featherweight champion.

“He doesn’t take any risks without his belt, that’s why he comes.

“He comes to make money.

“It’s all about that, everyone knows it.

“If he loses, he’ll still have his belt and he’ll defend early next year.”

Later, Makhachev continued about Volkanovski: “This guy has no pressure.

“He came 11 days, I already beat him, and if I beat him again, his people will say he came short term, not in shape, something like that.

“I just got in the cage, finished this guy off. That’s it.

“He knows he never touches that belt.”

Makhachev also hit back at Volkanovski’s claim that he was not going to just win by surprise at the Etihad Stadium, but do it by knockout.

“I don’t remember when Alex knocked anyone out,” he deadpanned.

“He wants to try to put pressure.

“But I don’t care.

“Everyone who enters the cage wants to knock me out, but I stop them all.

“I showed him too much respect in the first fight.

“This fight, I’m going to try to finish it within five rounds.”

When he finished beating his Australian rival, Makhachev also took to the UFC rankings, wondering how Volkanovski could still be ranked above him after his defeat in February.

Currently, Volkanovski and the UFC heavyweight champion are both ranked tied for first, with Makhachev third.

“I mean about the rankings, that’s bullshit…” he said.

“The last fight was number two against number one.

“And if you beat number one, you have to be number one.

“I don’t know who makes the rankings.”

When asked about the UFC and USADA split, Makhachev added: “When I woke up and saw the news, it shocked me.

“UFC is a level.

“So an organization needs to come and oversee this.

“Because we know when USADA comes, how the fighter changes, what the fighter looks like, how he fights… everything changes.

“It’s a high-level sport that must be subject to an anti-doping program.”