Islam Makhachev appeared to have a tough weight reduce for his UFC 284 title battle with Alexander Volkanovski. The undisputed light-weight champion needed to strip down in the course of the official weigh-ins to make the 155-pound restrict, and his alleged IV use has been a sizzling post-fight dialogue.
Makhachev lately caught up with TSN’s Aaron Bronsteter and was requested what he thought of Volkanovski remaining on prime of the pound-for-pound rankings regardless of his win. What we introduced up, in response, was how “completely different” issues had been in Australia, by way of pre-fight protocols.
“Individuals count on from me, like, simple battle. How I take him down, smash him there. However, you already know, many issues within the Australia is completely different. Like, all fighter get up early morning, they don’t give us time for the restoration. However, Volkanovksi don’t want a while for restoration. He don’t reduce an excessive amount of weight,” he stated.
“That’s why all issues from his facet: space, Australia, climate and weight. However I simply went to Australia, beat the champion, and I don’t care. They provide me the place or not, I simply have my belt.”
Based on Makhachev, fighters together with himself weren’t given sufficient time to get well.
“That is most necessary issues for the fighter. Not simply reduce weight, it’s important to get well. However, they don’t give time for the restoration, I don’t know.”
As a result of completely different weigh-in and occasion occasions in Australia, fighters weigh in on Saturday morning and battle 24 hours later. It’s not like when preventing within the US the place rivals weigh in on Friday morning and battle round 36 hours in a while Saturday night time.
This shortened restoration occasions for fighters like Makhachev that usually reduce a variety of weight, and not directly favored somebody like Volkanovski, who moved up a division and got here in nearer to his pure weight.
Nonetheless, regardless of a controversial outcome, Makhachev obtained the job carried out and now has a profitable title protection underneath his belt. His subsequent probably challenger is the winner between Charles Oliveira and Beneil Dariush at UFC 288 in Could.
In regards to the writer: Milan Ordoñez has been masking fight sports activities since 2012 and has been a part of the Bloody Elbow workers since 2016. He’s additionally competed in beginner combined martial arts and submission grappling tournaments. (full bio)
