Islam Makhachev Has Heated Exchange With Old UFC Rival: "Merry Christmas, B****"

Well, these two didn't exchange Christmas cards this year.

UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev continues to be in a war of words with an old foe.

Makhachev has had his share of verbal exchanges. As of late, he's been taking aim at UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards following "Rocky's" successful title defense against Colby Covington. While Makhachev wants to move forward with his career, an old foe continues to garner his attention.

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UFC lightweight Dan Hooker recently made a thread on X to prove his point that fighters from City Kickboxing are clean athletes. He then poked fun at Russian fighters, saying the next thread should be about their history with drug testing.

Islam Makhachev caught wind of the remark and hopped on his own X account to fire back at Hooker, who was quick to respond.

Islam Makhachev & Dan Hooker STILL going at it 😂 pic.twitter.com/JN892zxwb2

— MMA Knockout (@UFCKnockout) December 26, 2023

Merry Christmas bitch 😘

— Dan Hangman Hooker (@danthehangman) December 26, 2023

Makhachev and Hooker shared the Octagon back in October 2021. Makhachev emerged victorious in the first round via submission.

Since that time, Hooker hasn't been shy on how he feels about Makhachev, calling him a "cheating dog." He even accused the 155-pound titleholder of using an IV to rehydrate following the UFC 284 weigh-ins earlier this year.

Makhachev has denied any wrongdoing. In fact, despite once being flagged by USADA in 2016, Makhachev said he was upset by the news that the anti-doping agency and the UFC parted ways. In regards to the 2016 ordeal, Makhachev was cleared by USADA and his provisional suspension was lifted after they determined his innocence.

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