Alexander Volkanovski has branded UFC cheats “f***ing cowards” after allegations of improper IV use – and dodgy weigh-ins – have again ignited his blockbuster world title rivalry with UFC lightweight king Islam Makhachev.
Already considered one of the greatest UFC fighters now, and ever, Volkanovski is looking to become just the fifth UFC ‘champ champ’ ever when he throws down against Makhachev this Sunday at Etihad Stadium, Abu Dhabi.
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Despite taking the fight on only 11 days notice, the Aussie superstar said at a Monday media day he was extremely confident of reversing the result of the last fight between the pair back at UFC 284 in February — when it was the famed Dagastani who won a close decision.
Arguably the biggest drama occurred after the fight however, when Makhachev was accused by Team Volkanovski of having illegally used an IV drip to help him recover following an arduous weight cut.
Already this week, that same issue is quickly becoming the biggest talking point here on Yas Island, with Makhachev forced to defend himself on several occasions during a Monday media session he eventually cut short to go eat lunch.
While Volkanovski has so far refused to be drawn back into the IV saga – “I’m staying out of that” – Fox Sports Australia can reveal his team has urged UFC executives to administer “safeguards” to ensure the controversial fallout is not repeated.
Elsewhere, the UFC featherweight champion also confirmed whispers he had this week been made aware of a viral YouTube clip from several years ago entitled ‘Khabib missed weight and Fight Island officials allowed it’.
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The video, which went viral at the time of posting, shows retired UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov — who now coaches Makhachev — allegedly being allowed miss weight on the scales before UFC 254 on Yas Island, the same venue for Sunday’s showdown.
All of which consumed a massive media day where Makhachev was continually forced to defend against the old IV allegations that engulfed the aftermath of their first fight back in February.
Taking to Twitter at the time, UFC fighter Dan Hooker wrote of Makhachev: “Dumb c … thinks he can fly to Australia hire a nurse to give him an IV and we won’t find out. Cheating dog.”
Asked about the controversy on Monday, and the fact his rival was talking about it plenty, Volkanovski said: “I’m staying out of that.
“He is probably trying to change people’s opinions, that’s what he cares about.”
Volkanovski did confirm he had seen the old YouTube clip involving Nurmagomedov.
Asked if he had seen the video, Volkanovski replied: “Yeah”.
Thoughts?
“Look, I’m up against a lot of things,” he shrugged. “So who cares if there are a few more?
“Honestly, I don’t care.
“I’m backing myself.”
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Pushed on cheating in the UFC generally, he continued: “Obviously I hate all that s …, can’t stand it.
“Cheating, it’s weak.
“And I’m not here to start accusing anyone.
“But how f … ing embarrassing.
“How can somebody – and again, I’m not accusing anyone – but how can people do things when you know what you’ve done? How can you be proud of yourself of you’re cheating?
“How?
“You might fool everyone else, but you know.
“And how these people do that, f … ing cowards.”
Volkanovski’s manager Ash Belcastro has urged the UFC to put “safeguards” in place to ensure there were no similar controversies surrounding Sunday’s main event.
The call comes after the UFC only recently parted ways with USADA.
Asked about the IV saga that surrounded the first fight, Belcastro said: “I’d like to think there will be safeguards put in place by the UFC and by the commission.
“And we have confidence in them to look after that.
“In saying that, it is something in the sport that you can’t always get rid of.
“People will always try to look for an edge but I’d like to think that is not what they are doing.
“But we’ll always play a straight bat and focus on what we’re doing, the opportunity ahead and what we want to achieve.
“We won’t be letting any of that other stuff creep in.
“We’ll shock the world and Volk will be bringing that title home to Australia.”
Asked for his side of the issue, Makhachev said: “They make some drama but, you know, I understand if somebody else says it but his team say all these things.
“All these guys, fighters, they know how USADA checks us all the time.
“(But) they make some drama after the fight so USADA call me and ask them many questions.
“But I say ‘hey guys, where I live at the hotel, you have come everywhere, lobby, first floor, close to my room, you can check if someone come to my room and give IV to me.
“You can check all the people
“After when I say this to USADA, all this finish. I’m a professional fighter, I’m a UFC champion, I never touch some things you know.
“I’m for a clean sport.”
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