The UFC is set to embark on its outing in the land down under with UFC 312 in just a few days. The main event features Sean Strickland, who is determined to reclaim his lost middleweight title from reigning kingpin Dricus Du Plessis. However, just days before their highly anticipated showdown, a viral image of ‘Tarzan’s’ arm showing signs of a staph infection began circulating on social media.

And the South African wasted no time taking a jab at Strickland, sarcastically remarking on his Instagram story, “What? He grew taller and added staph infection to his arsenal. Sh-t” The American quickly fired back with an unfiltered response, “Calm the f— down. I don’t get sick. I don’t get f—— injured, and I don’t get f—— staph. So relax. I’m going to be out there on Sunday, and I’m going to come out f—— hard and strong. The hardest and strongest you’ve ever f—— seen. To the f—— death, Dutchman!” With that, Strickland dismissed all withdrawal rumors and downplayed any concerns regarding his condition.

However, fans and analysts remain aware of the risks associated with staph infections and the effects of antibiotics on an athlete’s performance. Even UFC megastar Conor McGregor chimed in, sharing a glaring truth about Sean Strickland’s situation with the caption, “Staph, the one staple in MMA.” In recent years, staph infections have emerged as a major concern for MMA fighters. Staphylococcus bacteria cause these infections, commonly found on human skin, but they become dangerous when entering the body, resulting in painful, swollen, pus-filled abscesses. The rigorous nature of MMA training—constant grappling, striking, and shared equipment—creates the perfect environment for the bacteria to spread.

While most staph infections can be treated with antibiotics, more severe, invasive cases can pose serious, even life-threatening risks. A notorious example occurred in 2018 when former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker developed a severe staph infection in his stomach. This forced him to withdraw from his scheduled title defense at UFC 221.

Apart from Bobby Knuckles, many prominent athletes have been plagued with the infection in the past. This includes Islam Makhachev, Jiri Prochazka, Luke Rockhold, and most famously Kevin Lee. The 155fer’s chances to capture the interim gold diminished after he went into his dance of violence with a nasty infection on the chest.

Because of the stigma surrounding withdrawals, many fighters conceal infections just to compete. This puts their health at a serious risk. But is that truly the right choice? Hear directly from Viktoriia Dudakova herself.

Why does Conor McGregor’s concern for Sean Strickland’s health seem justified?

UFC 294 was one of the most talked-about events of fall 2023, and for good reason. The card featured the highly anticipated rematch between Islam Makhachev and Alexander Volkanovski, where the Dagestani proved his dominance yet again. However, the event also grabbed headlines for another reason—Paulo Costa’s withdrawal due to a severe staph infection. Costa wasn’t the only fighter battling staph that night. Viktoriia Dudakova and Mike Breeden also struggled with infections, which led to both missing weight ahead of their fights.

Despite their setbacks, they secured hard-fought victories. In the post-fight press conference, they revealed that staph infections were the reason behind their weight-cut struggles. Dudakova, in particular, shared the brutal toll the infection took on her body, “I have to tell you, this time around I wasn’t able to wrestle and let me explain why. For the past month, I had a staph infection. My backside, my b–t, is completely bloodied up right now. I have a staph infection in places that it’s not necessarily OK to announce to the whole world.”

Her revelation sparked controversy because her failure to disclose the infection during her pre-fight medical examination reportedly frustrated ringside physicians. Unlike Costa, Dudakova refused to withdraw from her fight and even avoided taking antibiotics, fearing they would impact her performance. “Because we knew that if I did [take] antibiotics, I wouldn’t be able to catch my breath in the Octagon,” she explained.

Now, Strickland is facing a similar situation just days before his title fight. It is safe to say that all eyes are on him and UFC head honcho Dana White. If Strickland is on antibiotics to recover, will it affect his cardio and overall performance? Against a fighter like Du Plessis, known for his relentless pace, could this be a major disadvantage? What do you think? Drop your thoughts below!