Makhachev called an ambulance after teammate gave him seven laxative pills by mistake

Islam Makhachev spent a month and a half recovering from an accidental overdose of laxative pills after his 2019 UFC debut victory over Arman Tsarukyan, the lightweight champion has revealed in an interview with Red Corner MMA.

Makhachev, who beat Tsarukyan via unanimous decision to improve to what would become a 28-1 record, was feeling unwell in his hotel room after the fight and had already been sick. A teammate — identified only as Muslim — persuaded him to take what he believed were activated charcoal pills to settle his stomach. Makhachev took seven of them.

Almost immediately, the teammate realised he had handed over the wrong medication. With Makhachev’s stomach too empty to induce vomiting, the team searched for a manganese solution as a remedy but were unable to obtain one without a prescription. An ambulance was eventually called, and medics confirmed he had swallowed seven laxative pills.

“Muslim says, ‘Take some activated charcoal, it’s going to help you.’ I said no,” Makhachev recalled. “And I still remember him saying, ‘Hey, just one time listen to me and take activated charcoal.’ So he gives me the pills. I’m taking them all, and it’s like it came down from a waterfall as my stomach is empty. And he suddenly goes, ‘Stop. I gave you the wrong pills, throw up!’ And I say, ‘How can I throw up? My stomach is empty.’ So we called the ambulance. It turns out that he gave me laxative, seven pills. So I was recovering for a long time after that.”

The Dagestani fighter managed the extended recovery period on a restricted diet of milk and rice before returning to full health. The anecdote offers a rare glimpse into the chaos that can follow even a straightforward victory inside the octagon.