‘Two questions’: The harsh warning that shows how tough Islam Makhachev’s weight cut is

A blunt instruction during media day shows just how tough Islam Makhachev’s weight cut is going just days out from his rematch with Australian UFC legend Alex Volkanovski.

Islam Makhachev is doing his weight cut tough. Picture: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

A gaunt Islam Makhachev struggled through routine fight week media commitments in Abu Dhabi, as serious questions are again raised about his weight cuts.

Makhachev, who has a history of battling to make the 155-pound lightweight limit, at times struggled to talk during interviews just days ahead of his UFC 294 title fight rematch with Alex Volkanovski.

When he was ushered over to speak with this masthead, a minder gave a terse instruction: “Two questions. That’s it.”

That’s all Makhachev would answer before leaving.

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Islam Makhachev struggled to make weight the last time he faced off with Alex Volkanovski – and the same appears true in Abu Dhabi. Picture: Getty

He ended up answering a few more questions than that, and spoke briefly about Volkanovski’s wrestling and of his own struggles to make weight in Australia, before the interview was abruptly ended after three minutes.

Makhachev won a controversial decision against Volkanovski in Perth at UFC 294 in February.

He said complications around recovering from his severe weight cut affected his performance on fight night.

“In Australia, we had many things happen in the fight,” Makhachev said. “(The weight cut) wasn’t harder, but the recovery was.

“It was what a fighter needs to recover after the official weigh-in. In Australia, they went in the early morning and you wake up, you don’t know if you can eat breakfast or not.

“They take you to the arena. There were many things.

“They make it for US time for the pay per view, that’s why they start so early.”

Makhachev (L) and Volkanovski (R) face-off in February. Picture: Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC/Getty Images

On home ground this time around, Makhachev warns he’ll stop Volkanovski inside the distance.

“Everybody knows Volkanovski has good striking with how he closes the distance, but I think I can fight, I can strike, wrestle and grapple,” he said.

“I beat him in the striking. I landed very good punches, hard punches. I took him down and I used my grappling on him in Australia.

“But now we have the schedule, and everything has changed I will finish him.

“I feel more comfortable here. Everything I need, I have. I just have to step to the cage and show my level.”

Like his mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov, Makhachev has always faced an uphill struggle to make weight, and questions were asked about how he rehydrated ahead of UFC 284.

In a viral tweet, Kiwi lightweight Dan Hooker called Makhachev a “cheating dog” and accused him of hiring a nurse “to give him an IV”.

Makhachev is declared the winner of their first fight. Picture: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Rehydrating with an intravenous drip has been illegal in the UFC since 2015.

Despite the controversy, Volkanovski – who looked much fitter and more relaxed than Makhachev this week – wasn’t buying into any chatter around his opponent’s weight cut.

“He always struggles, so I don’t want to look at it as weakness,” Volkanovski told this masthead. “He’ll get through it and he’ll rock up.

“He won’t come to the fight underdone because of it. I can’t think like that.

“He’s not a real happy guy during fight week, because he does have such a big weight cut, but he’ll have time to rehydrate and he’ll be there on fight day.”

Originally published as ‘Two questions’: The harsh warning that shows how tough Islam Makhachev’s weight cut is