Top-ranked UFC light heavyweight contender

Magomed Ankalaev, who has spent much of this year calling for a fight with division champion Alex Pereira, is now set to face the fifth-ranked Aleksandar Rakic. This highly anticipated matchup promises to keep fans on the edge of their seats at UFC 308 this weekend at Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Arena. According to UFC President Dana White, the winner of this bout will move one step closer to challenging Pereira for the title.

Speaking to Kevin Iole earlier this month, White stated, “Ankalaev is ranked number 2. He goes out and puts on an unbelievable performance, and if Alex Pereira is still the champion, then he’s next,” suggesting this fight could be considered a semifinal.

However, this plan was dismissed earlier this month by former fighter and analyst Chael Sonnen. Ahead of fight day, a photo of Magomed Ankalaev emerged, shared by ‘MMA Uncensored’ on Instagram. The image, from a promotional shoot, caught fans’ attention as the Dagestani prospect’s right knee appeared to show signs of a possible staph infection. The post read, “Does Magomed Ankalaev have a staph infection?”

Staph infections have become a recurring challenge for MMA fighters, as the rigorous physical demands of the sport increase their susceptibility. This challenge surfaced when UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev reportedly battled a staph infection while preparing for his third title defense against Dustin Poirier last summer, although Makhachev’s performance appeared unaffected.

Fans are now closely watching to see how Dagestani Prospect’s condition, if indeed a staph infection, could influence his upcoming performance. Here’s a look at fan reactions surrounding this situation.

Fans Divided on Magomed Ankalaev’s Staph Infection Rumors

In the MMA Uncensored post, fans are seemingly divided over the rumors surrounding Magomed Ankalaev. One fan questioned the Dagestani fighter’s frequent battles with staph infections, asking,

“Why do Dagestanis always have staph infections?” This question has been raised by many, including UFC superstar Conor McGregor, who addressed the situation involving ‘Team Khabib’ earlier this year. McGregor voiced his disdain for Nurmagomedov’s team, stating, “This team is infested, make no mistake.”

However, there were also Magomed Ankalaev supporters in the comments who refuted the staph infection theory and defended the top-ranked contender. One fan commented, “Looks like a mat burn, lol,” while another fan corrected the narrative, telling others, “Omg guys, no. Not every scab or mark is a staph infection.”

Additionally, a different fan asserted that the photo was edited by AI, labeling it “AI propaganda.” UFC 308 has already been impacted by staph infection rumors, particularly after a recent picture of Ilia Topuria from a fight promo showed a mysterious hole on his knee. However, Topuria clarified these claims in a recent interview, stating that it was an old injury he sustained as a child.

Magomed Ankalaev fans seem unaffected by any rumors, as they completely dismissed the staph infection theory and even took verbal jabs at the haters. One fan stood tall, commenting, “Still going to win. Closer to fight day, the more we see Dagestani haters cry about something,” predicting a victory for the Dagestani sensation. This response parallels a previous situation involving Merab Dvalishvili, who was rumored to be infected with staph before his historic fight at the Sphere. It turned out to be something else entirely, as one commenter quipped, “Last time you said Merab had a staph infection, turns out he had a hickey from the chicks he b-nged.”

Now, all eyes are on the upcoming UFC 308, where Magomed Ankalaev will look to extend his winning streak to 11 fights against Aleksandar Rakic. Will he succeed, or will what seems to be a ‘staph infection’ get in his way? Drop your opinion below.