More than Volkanovski, Makhachev was “becoming gassed,” according to Atlas

By | Nandini Sharma 24 Feb, 2023

Islam Makhachev, the FC lightweight champion, was a strong favorite going into his first title defense against featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 284. Naturally, as we all know, the battle fell short of these expectations. Instead, the audience witnessed a back-and-forth contest Makhachev ultimately prevailed with a controversial unanimous decision.

Makhachev’s performance is being highlighted now that the fight is concluded and the outcome has been determined. Teddy Atlas, singled out Makhachev’s problems on the scale.

Teddy Atlas made a statement

During his recent interview Atlas stated “Makhachev has trouble making weight, Okay, he’s a big guy. All right, he took all his clothes off. He just made the weight. Like I said, you know he was struggling to get down to that. We see him have to get naked, you know they put the thing around him so you don’t see him.”He added “But we know that he’s naked on the scale. What we also have to assume and know is that he had to restrict himself and compromise himself with his diet, and with fluid intake. He had to dry out, maybe a little longer than normal.”

He continued “He had to do all that fighters have to do to cut that weight. That weakens you,Is it possible – he’s renowned, Makhavev is renowned for his gas tank. He’s renowned for his extraordinary, superhuman endurance, right? He’s renowned for that. He doesn’t burn out, he just keeps going. He was getting gassed at the end more than Volkanovski. And so, did that play into it? I think it could’ve.”