Justin Gaethje says he doesn’t have staph infection ahead of, what will likely be, his final chance to capture a UFC title.
Gaethje is set to face Paddy Pimblett in the main event of UFC 324 for the interim lightweight title. The event takes place Jan. 24 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, and serves as the first event for the UFC to stream on Paramount+.
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Throughout the training camp, Gaethje has been documenting his preparation on his YouTube channel. With his most recent video, many fans on social media pointed out a pretty sizable, wound-looking bump on the right side of Gaethje’s neck, with a lot of people pointing out it could be staph infection.
Gaethje saw those claims, and immediately shut them down on social media.
“It’s an ingrown hair on my neck and brisket hanging out of my mouth, Nostradamus,” Gaethje said of the claims to a fan.
Gaethje looks to become a two-time interim champion when he faces Pimblett, first capturing that title with a fifth-round stoppage against Tony Ferguson at UFC 249 in May 2020. “The Highlight” went on to lose the unification bout to Khabib Nurmagomedov five months later at UFC 254, and would get another crack at the undisputed belt in May 2022 where he was stopped by Charles Oliveira at UFC 274.
Since then, Gaethje has competed four times, going 3-1, winning the BMF title with a knockout win over Dustin Poirier, and losing that title to Max Holloway at UFC 300.
