Strickland Responds to Du Plessis’ Accusations

Sean Strickland has shut down accusations from Dricus du Plessis regarding a potential staph infection ahead of their middleweight title fight at UFC 312 in Sydney, Australia. The controversy began after du Plessis posted a side-by-side image on Instagram, comparing Strickland’s physique from their first fight to a recent photo during fight week.

His caption read: “What? He grew taller and added staph infection to his arsenal. Oh shit.” Fans immediately reacted, with some expressing concern about Strickland’s health. During Thursday’s pre-fight press conference, Strickland was asked about the post. His response was as fiery as expected:

“Listen, you motherfckers, I’m immune to staph!”* Strickland shouted. “You see this fcking mustache? I give staph, I don’t fcking get staph!” He continued, “Calm the fck down. I don’t get sick. I don’t get fcking injured, and I don’t get fcking staph. So relax.”*

Understanding Staph Infections in MMA

Staph infections are caused by staphylococcus bacteria, which are highly contagious and commonly spread through skin-to-skin contact. Fighters are especially at risk due to their intense grappling and training environments. The infection often appears as painful boils or blisters and, if left untreated, can spread to the bloodstream, joints, lungs, or heart.

Medical experts warn that staph infections can impact an athlete’s performance. Treatment usually involves antibiotics, which can weaken the body’s endurance and strength. However, there has been no official confirmation that Strickland is dealing with any medical condition. UFC officials have not raised concerns, and Strickland himself has denied any issues.

Strickland’s Mindset Before the Fight

Despite the rumors, Strickland remains fully focused on reclaiming the UFC middleweight title. His confidence was evident in his final words before stepping into the octagon:

“I’m going to be out there on Sunday, and I’m going to come out fcking hard and strong,”* he said. “The hardest and strongest you’ve ever fcking seen. To the fcking death, Dutchman!”

Strickland often refers to du Plessis as “Dutchman” due to his South African roots and Dutch heritage. This is part of his psychological warfare, aiming to provoke his opponent before fight night. The mind games between the two fighters have been a major talking point leading up to the rematch.

UFC 312: Fight Card and Key Details

UFC 312 takes place on Saturday, February 8, at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia. The event features multiple high-stakes matchups, including two championship fights:

Main Event: Dricus du Plessis (c) vs. Sean Strickland – Middleweight Title Fight
Co-Main Event: Zhang Weili (c) vs. Tatiana Suarez – Women’s Strawweight Title Fight

Strickland and du Plessis last fought in January 2024 at UFC 297, where du Plessis won the middleweight belt via split decision. Since then, du Plessis defended his title against Israel Adesanya, while Strickland returned with a dominant victory over Paulo Costa.

The bad blood between the two has only intensified, and with both fighters determined to make a statement, this rematch is set to be one of the most explosive title fights of the year.

Source: MMAnytt.se

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