IV League? Volks Poo-Poos Resurging Saline Scandal

“The more adversities, the better the story.” —Alex Volkanovski

Islam Makhachev cuts a tremendous amount of weight to make 155 pounds.

Ahead of his UFC 284 showdown against Alex Volkanovski, the lightweight champion was accused of illegally using an IV to rehydrate, though his outspoken accuser, current UFC lightweight and Team Volks training partner Dan Hooker, later admitted the whole thing may have been a “genuine misunderstanding.”

Either way, some folks added an asterisk to Makhachev’s eventual win over “The Great.”

Fast-forward to UFC 294 and Volkanovski will have the opportunity to avenge his loss. Not surprisingly, the reigning featherweight champion was broached about the possibility of Makhachev’s IV use resurfacing ahead of their Oct. 21 title fight in Abu Dhabi, but “The Great” wasn’t interested in revisiting that drama.

“I’m not gonna get involved with any of that, I’m staying away from all that,” Volkanovski told The MMA Hour. “I’ve got a job to do and we’ll just settle it. I don’t care. I’ll just pack my skills all the way, but I’m not gonna get into that. There’s so many other things. Short notice, obviously being in Abu Dhabi, all that type of stuff … mate … at this point I’m like, ‘who cares?’ The more adversities, the better the story, so whatever.”

Makhachev was originally scheduled to rematch former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira; however, “Do Bronx” was busted open a week before the fight, forcing the promotion to lean on Volkanovski — who was already clamoring for a Makhachev do-over — to swoop in and save the day.

History will be made at UFC 294 this weekend in Abu Dhabi … or perhaps repeat itself, depending on the outcome.