Islam Makhachev pulls out of Sky Sports interview with Dan Hooker ahead of UFC 311

Islam Makhachev surprisingly withdrew from his scheduled Sky Sport NZ interview with fellow lightweight Dan Hooker due to illness ahead of UFC 311 on Jan. 18. The Dagestani will face off against Arman Tsarukyan in the main event of the card, but news of his reported ill-health could cause concern for fans of the 33-year-old.

Makhachev and Tsarukyan famously clashed at UFC Fight Night 149 in 2019 in an incredibly competitive clash. The Georgian-born Armenian suffered a unanimous decision defeat, his first fight in the promotion, but the pair have since compiled a combined record of 18-1.

They are set to headline the UFC's first pay-per-view card of 2025 in a highly anticipated rematch, which will take place at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. During the UFC 311 preview released by Sky Sports NZ, the program's host, Ravinder Hunia, revealed that she and co-host Hooker were set to interview Makhachev on the show before he pulled out, citing illness.

She said this:

"We were supposed to have Islam Makhachev on the show this week. However, he let us know that he wasn't feeling well, which is not ideal come fight week. But we'll soon see how this all pans out during the week."

Check out Ravinder Hunia's comments below (6:10):

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Arman Tsarukyan doesn't believe Islam Makhachev was sick before their first fight

Prior to Islam Makhachev's fight with Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 284 in 2023, many fans and pundits believed that the Dagestani's most difficult clash had been against Arman Tsarukyan at UFC Fight Night 149.

Tsarukyan displayed his elite wrestling skillset in his promotional debut against Makhachev, widely regarded as the division's best grappler. However, in the years since their clash, several of the lightweight champion's teammates have claimed that he was ill on fight night.

Ahead of their upcoming rematch for the 155-pound title, 'Akhalkalakets' was asked to share his thoughts on the claim that Makhachev was sick when he faced him in 2019.

During a recent interview with Red Corner MMA, he said this:

"I didn't feel anything like that. For example, if a man had food poisoning, diarrhea or stomach ache, he would be sick after one round of such an intense fight. I don't think that he was sick. Maybe some light food poisoning.He could be vomiting because of being exhausted after the 15-minute fight."

Check out Arman Tsarukyan discussing Islam Makhachev below (8:15):