Sean Strickland responds to Dricus du Plessis’ accusation that he has a staph infection heading into UFC 312

Sean Strickland is healthy and ready to fight.

That’s the message the former middleweight champion passed along on Thursday in response to a social media post from Dricus du Plessis that questioned if perhaps he brought an infection along with him from the United States to Australia. On Wednesday, du Plessis posted a photo featuring a side-by-side image of Strickland from their first meeting and then during this current fight week in Australia in his Instagram stories with the caption “What? He grew taller and added staph infection to his arsenal. Oh shit.”

In the final question during the UFC 312 pre-fight press conference, Strickland responded to that post after he was asked if he was actually battling a staph infection heading into the rematch.

“Listen you motherf*ckers, I’m immune to staph,” Strickland shouted. “You see this f*cking mustache? I give staph, I don’t f*cking get staph.

“Calm the f*ck down. I don’t get sick. I don’t get f*cking injured and I don’t get f*cking staph. So relax.

Staph infections are caused by staphylococcus bacteria and are commonly found on the skin but if not treated properly, the infection can actually turn deadly if the bacteria invades the bloodstream, joints, bones, lungs or heart.

The skin infection, which often looks like a boil or a blister, can be highly contagious, which is why fighters often deal with the issue because of the physical contact required during training sessions in the gym. Treatment for staph infection involves a course of antibiotics, which can also affect athletes negatively in a fight.

But obviously Strickland promises he’s not dealing with any staph infection no matter what du Plessis says about it and he’s just ready to get down to business in the octagon.

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

The middleweight rivals look to settle their differences when they meet for the second time in the UFC 312 main event on Saturday from Sydney, Australia.