UFC champion Islam Makhachev had to lose an astonishing two-and-a-half STONE before his rematch with Alexander Volkanovski.
Makhachev knocked out Volkanovski in round one of the UFC 294 headliner after a head kick followed by a ground and pound finish.
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Volkanovski, 35, took the bout on just 11 days notice after Charles Oliveira, 34, pulled out with a cut.
The Australian featherweight king had to lose almost two stone in less than a fortnight to make the 155lb limit.
And Makhachev, 31, gave himself a similar task to overcome having entered his fight camp at 191lb (13st 6lb).
So to make the 155lb mark of 11st it would have almost meant losing 2st 6lb himself, his coach Javier Mendez told on Submission Radio.
Mendez said: “At his top form, when he’s in great, great shape getting ready for a fight two weeks out, Islam is in the low 80s, 185, 184 or somewhere around that range.
“But when he comes to training camp, he’s like 191.”
Fighters often put their health at risk to lose large amounts of weight in a matter of days.
The main way they cut so much weight is by dehydrating themselves, reducing their water intake to a bare minimum over a few days.
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They also stick to high protein foods such as broccoli, spinach and chicken.
Makhachev has now set his sights on the welterweight title Leon Edwards 32, defends against Colby Covington, 35, at UFC 296 on December 16.
And the Russian is ready to replace either man should they pull out.
Makhachev said: “If they call me, I will be ready for Colby or Leon. “[I’m ready for] any fights. But my dream, my goal, I want a second belt.”
Only seven fighters in UFC history have won belts in two divisions with five of them doing so simultaneously.
And Makhachev added: “We have many UFC champions, but not much double champs. I want to be a double champion.”
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