Rising UFC talent Benoit Saint-Denis has hurled serious allegations at Islam Makhachev and MMA icon Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Saint-Denis is currently positioned as the 12th-ranked UFC lightweight contender. On the other hand, Makhachv is the reigning lightweight champion. Saint-Denis raised concerns about the potential use of PEDs by the dominant Russian combatants.
In an exclusive interview with Le Figaro, Benoit Saint-Denis directly confronted Islam Makhachev’s prior USADA flag for meldonium. Expressing suspicions, he accused both Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov of indulging in PED usage.
He stated: “When it comes to the Nurmagomedov family, for example, I have no doubts: they’re loaded like mules. They’re clever in the way they d0pe, but they know how to do it very well. Makhachev, for example, was caught using meldonium. It’s a product that led to the entire Russian federation being sanctioned and withdrawn from the 2016 Olympic Games. The current UFC lightweight champion was caught in 2016!”
However, it’s imperative to highlight that USADA’s investigation cleared Makhachev of any wrongdoing. The flagged instance was attributed to a medical procedure the UFC champion underwent in late 2014. After the procedure, Makhachev was legitimately prescribed meldonium.
USADA’s thorough examination determined that Makhachev ceased using the fatty acid oxidation inhibitor before it was added to the WADA’s list of prohibited suplements.
Despite not currently holding a top position in the lightweight division, Saint-Denis has been steadily ascending the rankings in a remarkable manner. His ascent features an impressive streak of five consecutive victories, culminating in a standout performance in his most recent bout.
Notably, Saint-Denis secured a first-round head kick knockout against Matt Frevola on the main card of UFC 295 in November. This victory earned him his second Performance of the Night bonus and his third UFC fight night bonus.
On the other hand, Makhechev last competed in a match against Alexander Volkanovski. He ended up winning the bout via first round knockout.