Sean Strickland responds to Dricus Du Plessis’ injury accusation as fans worry American could withdraw from UFC 312
Sean Strickland has denied carrying a staph infection following accusations from Dricus du Plessis. Strickland, 33, rematches du Plessis in the main event of UFC 312 this Sunday in Sydney, Australia. Strickland said he ‘doesn’t get sick’ during the press conference at Qudos Bank Arenagetty The pair previously clashed last January at UFC 297 where du Plessis was crowned the UFC middleweight champion for the first time after a split decision victory. Accusations emerged after du Plessis took to Instagram on Wednesday night to share what looked to be a staph infection on the left arm of Strickland in new photos released by the UFC. “What? He grew taller and added [a] staph infection to his arsenal…Oh s***!” the South African said. This sparked panic among UFC fans around the world as many started to question if the injury was serious enough that Strickland may have to pull out of the fight. “Imagine the Dricus Du Plessis fight fell through,” one fan said in response to the injury claims on X. However, the American has certainly put to bed any potential scenario of something like that occurring. “Listen you m*****f***ers, I’m immune to staph,” Strickland said after he was asked if he was ‘healthy’ coming into his fight with du Plessis. “You see this f***ing mustache? I give staph I don’t f***ing get staph. Calm the f*** down.” “I don’t get sick, I don’t get f***ing injured, I don’t get f***ing staph so relax. I’m gonna be out there on Sunday and I’m gonna come out f***ing hard and strong. “The hardest and strongest you’ve ever f***ing seen.” Strickland has denied he is carrying a staph infectiongetty Although the signs of it are certainly visible ahead of his fight with du Plessisgetty Following his win over Strickland, du Plessis, 31, went on to defend his belt seven months later at UFC 305 against fan-favourite Israel Adesanya, submitting the former two-time champion in the fourth round. The South African is undefeated in the UFC, having fought eight times since his October 2020 debut, while Strickland, the more experienced of the two, has fought once since losing his belt to the former, beating Paulo Costa by split decision in June. Staph infections have been quite a prominent theme in the UFC in 2025 after Merab Dvalishvili caused worry following a social media post that hinted he was suffering with the injury ahead of his co-main event bout at UFC 311. Dvalishvili had denied the injury in the build up to his first UFC bantamweight title defence against Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311, but it was revealed after the fight that he was indeed suffering with it. In fact, his coach, John Wood, revealed the brutal injury meant his ‘whole shin became infected’, while MMA journalist Ariel Helwani said any other person may have had their ‘leg amputated’ if they had the same injury. Dvalishvili even admitted that he showed UFC doctors his opposite leg in the buildup to his bout in order to pass any medical examinations. UFC 297: Strickland vs Du Plessis (January, 2024) Stats Sean Strickland Significant strikes – 173 of 408 Total strikes – 183 of 419 Takedowns – 0 of 0 Dricus Du Plessis Significant strikes – 137 of 354 Total strikes – 140 of 358 Takedowns – 6 of 11 Dvalishvili had similar symptoms to Strickland ahead of his last fight Fighting with a staph infection could lead to it spreading to other parts of Strickland’s body, Strickland is one of the toughest, hardest-hitting fighters in the UFC, therefore it is extremely unlikely, even if he does have the infection, that he would ever withdraw from the fight. Both Strickland and du Plessis are known for their unorthodox fighting styles. The former stands very upright during his bouts and the latter sends waves of strikes in awkward, yet extremely powerful bursts. Elsewhere at UFC 312, Zhang Weili defends her strawweight title against Tatiana Suarez in the co-main event. New Zealander Justin Tafa fights on the main card too, while Australian’s Jimmy Crute and Jake Matthews feature.
Sean Strickland has denied carrying a staph infection following accusations from Dricus du Plessis.
Strickland, 33, rematches du Plessis in the main event of UFC 312 this Sunday in Sydney, Australia.
The pair previously clashed last January at UFC 297 where du Plessis was crowned the UFC middleweight champion for the first time after a split decision victory.
Accusations emerged after du Plessis took to Instagram on Wednesday night to share what looked to be a staph infection on the left arm of Strickland in new photos released by the UFC.
“What? He grew taller and added [a] staph infection to his arsenal…Oh s***!” the South African said.
This sparked panic among UFC fans around the world as many started to question if the injury was serious enough that Strickland may have to pull out of the fight.
“Imagine the Dricus Du Plessis fight fell through,” one fan said in response to the injury claims on X.
However, the American has certainly put to bed any potential scenario of something like that occurring.
“Listen you m*****f***ers, I’m immune to staph,” Strickland said after he was asked if he was ‘healthy’ coming into his fight with du Plessis.
“You see this f***ing mustache? I give staph I don’t f***ing get staph. Calm the f*** down.”
“I don’t get sick, I don’t get f***ing injured, I don’t get f***ing staph so relax. I’m gonna be out there on Sunday and I’m gonna come out f***ing hard and strong.
“The hardest and strongest you’ve ever f***ing seen.”
Following his win over Strickland, du Plessis, 31, went on to defend his belt seven months later at UFC 305 against fan-favourite Israel Adesanya, submitting the former two-time champion in the fourth round.
The South African is undefeated in the UFC, having fought eight times since his October 2020 debut, while Strickland, the more experienced of the two, has fought once since losing his belt to the former, beating Paulo Costa by split decision in June.
Staph infections have been quite a prominent theme in the UFC in 2025 after Merab Dvalishvili caused worry following a social media post that hinted he was suffering with the injury ahead of his co-main event bout at UFC 311.
Dvalishvili had denied the injury in the build up to his first UFC bantamweight title defence against Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311, but it was revealed after the fight that he was indeed suffering with it.
In fact, his coach, John Wood, revealed the brutal injury meant his ‘whole shin became infected’, while MMA journalist Ariel Helwani said any other person may have had their ‘leg amputated’ if they had the same injury.
Dvalishvili even admitted that he showed UFC doctors his opposite leg in the buildup to his bout in order to pass any medical examinations.
UFC 297: Strickland vs Du Plessis (January, 2024)
Stats
- Sean Strickland
Significant strikes – 173 of 408
Total strikes – 183 of 419
Takedowns – 0 of 0
- Dricus Du Plessis
Significant strikes – 137 of 354
Total strikes – 140 of 358
Takedowns – 6 of 11
Fighting with a staph infection could lead to it spreading to other parts of Strickland’s body,
Strickland is one of the toughest, hardest-hitting fighters in the UFC, therefore it is extremely unlikely, even if he does have the infection, that he would ever withdraw from the fight.
Both Strickland and du Plessis are known for their unorthodox fighting styles.
The former stands very upright during his bouts and the latter sends waves of strikes in awkward, yet extremely powerful bursts.
Elsewhere at UFC 312, Zhang Weili defends her strawweight title against Tatiana Suarez in the co-main event.
New Zealander Justin Tafa fights on the main card too, while Australian’s Jimmy Crute and Jake Matthews feature.
