Welcome to Midnight Mania!
It wouldn’t be a great fight without a bit of controversy.
The UFC 284 main event between Alexander Volkanovski and Islam Makhachev really exceeded expectations (see highlights here). Volkanovski was able to push Makhachev more than any previous opponent despite the height disadvantage, resulting in a highly skilled and closely contested fight that some fans thought the Australian had won. Nevertheless, Makhachev took the victory in a game of inches.
Clearly, this was a fight where every little aspect counted, which is perhaps why Dan Hooker, Volkanovski’s teammate and former Makhachev opponent Dan Hooker didn’t keep quiet. The day after UFC 284, Hooker took to Twitter to accuse Makhachev of rehydrating himself via an intravenous drip. The problem? The use of IVs has been banned by the United States Anti Drug Administration (USADA) since 2016. Prior to the ban, IVs were commonly used by athletes to rehydrate after significant weight reductions, allowing for faster recovery and less time spent dehydrating.
Islam Makhachev definitely lost a lot of weight, and he was surely feeling that tension in the championship rounds. Nevertheless, the Makhachev team responded on Monday. One of his managers, Rizvan Magomedov, released a statement to MMA Junkie flatly denying the accusations, as well as attributing Hooker’s claims to sour grapes.
“We all know this is completely BS,” Magomedov said. “The guy is a loser. It’s salty and just looking for attention, and that’s it.
Stay tuned for future developments.
Insomnia
I tear the UFC up for all the boring, cheap bullshit the promotion does pretty much every chance they get. However, Jens Pulver’s induction into the Hall of Fame is a long overdue move, and the UFC deserves props to finally get on with it.
Ilia Topuria wants that “T-City” smoke.
Al Iaquinta accidentally describes the past three years of UFC fighting:
Stephen Thompson shows off one of his signature punching techniques!
A few more details about André Fili’s injury – the detached retina always looked really scary.
If you haven’t quit the sport of MMA yet due to a judge’s decision, you’re not a real fan yet. I think my most angry moment came when Frankie Edgar lost (allegedly) to Benson Henderson the second time…
Lil Wayne’s boycott of the UFC lasted 9 minutes.
Incredibly relatable. Who among us hasn’t been “done with the UFC forever” for 10 minutes? pic.twitter.com/YkM56roq2Y
— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) February 12, 2023
Slips, tears and KO clips
It’s been quite a while since amateur boxing highlights have graced the column. CHECK THE HOOK!
Sometimes it’s enough to let the referee know that you are in control and the other can’t do anything.
Caught the kick and took his time with the follow up…
Random terrain
Cats do not respect the laws of nature, but goats defy gravity.
Midnight Music: Alternative, 1993
Sleep well fools! More martial arts madness is always on the way.
#Midnight #Mania #Alleged #Makhachev #labeled #Complete
