Benoit Saint-Denis has cleared the air before stepping into one of the biggest fights of his UFC career.
The No. 5-ranked lightweight became the subject of online speculation after fans noticed a mark on his ankle during fight week. That quickly sparked rumors that the French contender was once again dealing with a staph infection ahead of his UFC 329 co-main event against Paddy Pimblett on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Saint-Denis says fans overreacted to ankle wound
Saint-Denis made it clear to RMC Sport Combat that there is no medical issue heading into fight night, explaining that the injury was far less serious than many believed.
“No, I don’t have staph,”
“Things can move very quickly on social media now, and it gets a bit ridiculous. I did have a scab on my foot, yes, but it’s not staph.”
The lightweight added that the situation never affected his preparation and that his training camp remained on track.
“These are things that can happen. But the camp was managed very well.”
Previous staph concerns fueled fan speculation
The rumors gained traction because Saint-Denis has faced similar questions in the past.
Before UFC 315, fans also pointed to a visible wound on his head and questioned whether he was dealing with another infection. Earlier in his career, Saint-Denis revealed that he entered his fight against Dustin Poirier while battling a staph infection, a bout that ended in a knockout loss.
That history made fans quick to assume the worst after spotting the mark on his ankle. Saint-Denis, however, insists there is no reason for concern as he prepares for his high-profile showdown with Pimblett.