“I’ve Had Malaria Damn Near 8 Times”: Israel Adesanya Brushes Injury Rumors

The UFC Universe is all geared up to witness the epic showdown between Israel Adesanya and Yoel Romero. The two will face each other in the main event of UFC 248 on 7 March 2020. That is, if all goes well.

Also read: Best Promo Ever? UFC Drops an Epic Promo For Israel Adesanya vs Yoel Romero

It is not unheard of for fighters to pull out of fights citing injuries or other illnesses. After all, training for a combat sport is a highly dangerous routine in itself.

And here’s what was bothering the fans at the moment. Israel Adesanya recently featured in an interview with Combat TV. In the interview, he spoked about his plans for defeating Romero. What caught everyone’s attention besides the interesting statements was Israel’s forearm.

While speaking to the interviewer, Israel moved his left forearm to his head. In doing so, he provided a clear glimpse of what seems like an ugly and rather painful mark on his forearm.

It is hard to tell what exactly it is that is plaguing Adesanya’s forearm. It could be a skin disease, a burn or anything. While the category of the mark is unknown, by the looks of it, the magnitude is definitely high.

Watch: When Israel Adesanya Knocked Out Robert Whittaker to Win the UFC Middleweight Title

Israel Adesanya Addresses the fans’ concerns

In a recent interview with Ariel Helwani, Adesanya talked about the mysterious mark on his forearm. Many speculated it to be a staph infection. But it turns out that the mark on Adesanya’s forearm was nothing but a “scrape”. Adesanya said:

“It’s just a little something, a little scrape of myself. That s**t happens, but whatever.”

Adesanya made it clear that he is fighting Yoel Romero regardless of anything else. The champion explained:

“A little something. I’ve never had staph. I never will,” he said. “I’ve had malaria damn near eight times. I don’t know what else I’ve had. Like you think staph’s going to f**k with me?”

Israel Adesanya will defend his undisputed middleweight champion for the first time. And it will be against the Boogeyman of the division, Yoel Romero.

Adesanya’s elite striking, reach advantage, and solid takedown defense makes him a formidable opponent in the division. On the other hand, Romero’s explosiveness and vicious knockout power can finish the fight at any moment.

Who do you think will get the job done at UFC 248?