Sean Strickland assures fans he isn’t battling staph infection going into UFC 312.
Strickland (29-6 MMA, 16-6 UFC) challenges middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis (22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) in a title-fight rematch, which headlines Saturday’s event at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN2, ESPN+).
During Strickland’s pre-fight photoshoot with the UFC, many noticed what appeared to be a potential staph infection on his upper left arm. Du Plessis played into it by posting something about it on his Instagram story (h/t Championship Rounds).
Strickland addressed those rumors and denied that he’s battling staph.
“Listen motherf*ckers, I’m immune to staph,” Strickland said during Thursday’s UFC 312 pre-fight press conference. “You see this f*cking mustache, I give staph, I don’t f*cking get staph. Calm the f*ck down.
“I don’t get sick, I don’t get f*cking injured, I don’t get f*cking staph. So, relax. I’m going to be out there on Sunday, and I’m going to come out f*cking hard and strong. The hardest and strongest you’ve ever f*cking seen. To the f*cking death, Dutch man.”
Strickland will look to avenge his title loss to Du Plessis at UFC 297. Strickland lost their first bout last January by split decision.
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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 312.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Sean Strickland dismisses staph infection speculation before UFC 312: ‘I’m immune’
