ABU DHABI – Alexander Volkanovski thinks Islam Makhachev is making excuses by saying he didn’t have enough time to rehydrate for UFC 284. Makhachev outlasted Volkanovski after five hard rounds February in Perth to retain his lightweight title. Makhachev complained about having less time to rehydrate in Australia, due to the official weigh-ins being later in the afternoon – as opposed to the usual early morning. That prompted Volkanovski’s teammate Dan Hooker to accuse Makhachev of using intravenous (IV) therapy to replenish after weigh-ins, which is an illegal practice. Now Makhachev will run things back with Volkanovski (26-2 MMA, 13-1 UFC) in his adopted home country in Abu Dhabi in Saturday’s UFC 294 headliner at Etihad Arena, and expects all the advantages to be on his side this time around. “He needs all the advantages he can get,” Volkanovski said during Thursday’s press conference.
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