UFC star Alexander Volkanovski’s coach backs up MMA cheating allegations against Islam Makhachev

Alexander Volkanovski’s coach Joe Lopez has revealed information that he had heard about Islam Makhachev’s team requesting IVs before the blockbuster title fight at UFC 284.

The Russian denied Volkanovski triumph on home soil by winning the thrilling main event in Perth by a unanimous decision 28-27, 28-27, 29-26.

The loss was the Australian’s first in the UFC after 22 straight wins, but Volkanovski and many fans and pundits alike insisted he should have been awarded the decision.

After the bout, New Zealand UFC star Dan Hooker made bombshell claims that Makhachev had ‘cheated’ by using an intravenous [IV] drip to help him rehydrate ahead of the fight.

Joe Lopez, Volkanovski’s longtime head coach, told Daily Mail Australia he heard news of IV bags being ordered to the rooms of the Russian team before the superfight. 

Alexander Volkanovski’s coach Joe Lopez has revealed information that he had heard about Islam Makhachev’s team requesting IVs before the blockbuster title fight at UFC 284

The loss was the Australian’s first in the UFC after 22 straight wins, but Volkanovski and many fans and pundits alike insisted he should have been awarded the decision (Joe Lopez pictured with Alex Volkanovski)

‘I heard about the IV stuff before the fight,’ he told Daily Mail Australia. 

‘We didn’t say anything to Alex. We kept that to ourselves. We knew about it then.

‘There’s a smoking gun there. I find it awkward, unless I’m there to witness it, it’s hard for me to accuse anybody. What we do know, and it’s hearsay, [is that] there was an IV company that they approached and got to the hotel room. 

‘They ordered IVs for that room. There’s too many stories.’

Using an IV drip to rehydrate was banned in the UFC in October 2015 after a decision by the USADA. 

This rule was loosened slightly in 2019, with dehydrated fighters now being allowed to take 100ml or less quantity of IVs in every 12-hour period, as long as it is administered by a medical professional.

UFC fighters who flout the rules can face bans from the sport for up to two years. 

Lopez believes rules were probably broken, but it will be hard to prove.

‘Apparently, when the girl came [from the IV delivery service] there they wanted her to drop off the bags [and leave], but she said she couldn’t. It was against the company policy,’ said Lopez.

UFC fighters who flout the rules can face bans from the sport for up to two years (Islam Makhachev pictured)

Lopez believes rules were probably broken, but it will be hard to prove

‘They [The Russian team] said, they wanted her to put some vitamins into the IV bag and she said “I don’t know what that is, I’m not doing it”.

‘Those guys are pretty intimidating and started putting the bounce on her and she rang her boss and the boss said just leave the bags and get out of there, and that’s what they’ve done.’

Lopez says he doesn’t have a problem with the use of IVs to rehydrate – just as long as the rules are clear and all fighters are on the same page. But he thinks some fighters are breaking the rules.

‘I hope they put a stop to it. Either everybody uses it or nobody uses it,’ he said.

‘I’ve got texts and things I’ve seen from certain people in the UFC saying that 90% of the UFC roster uses IVs and all that. I just wrote back, we are probably the 10% that doesn’t.

‘Some of these guys take nine hours to get back to normal [after cutting weight]. You get an IV and you’re back to normal in 20 mins. 

 Lopez says the use of IVs is concerning because it can mask the use of performance enhancing drugs

Islam Makhachev’s team has denied claims he used an IV before the fight, and no further evidence has come out to show that the Russian did anything illegal while rehydrating

‘The bad thing about them is that they use them to mask other things – diuretics or performance [performance enhancing drugs] – it masks all that, and that’s why they stopped it.’

Islam Makhachev’s team has denied claims he used an IV before the fight, and no further evidence has come out to show that the Russian did anything illegal while rehydrating in fight week.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted numerous IV delivery companies in Perth to comment, but at the time of publishing none have information on this matter.

Despite the loss in Perth for the lightweight crown, Volkanovski has held onto his No. 1 position in the pound-for-pound rankings.