Islam Makhachev has hit back at social media critics claiming that he is fighting with a nasty infection this weekend.
The lightweight champion faces Dustin Poirier in the main event of UFC 302 on Saturday night, and has put in an intensive training camp in both Russia and New Jersey. But a mark on his leg that was spotted during a routine photo session got fans on social media riled up about a potential injury.
Eagle-eyed X, formerly Twitter, users noted that the fighter had what appeared to be a red mark on his right leg in a newly-taken portrait released by the UFC. And even legends of the sport like Conor McGregor accused him of fighting with a staph infection, which can even be dangerous to the opponent.
- INFESTED: Conor McGregor goes off on Islam Makhachev’s team as he makes observation ahead of UFC 302
Conor McGregor accuses Islam Makhachev of fighting with staph infection at UFC 302
Former lightweight champion McGregor was one of the many social media users to notice the mark on Makhachev’s leg in a promotional photo taken at the beginning of fight week. The Irishman has a long-standing feud with the Russian’s team, most infamously his coach Khabib Nurmagomedov.
And he used the potential injury as an excuse to fire off another shot at Makhachev’s camp, writing in a now-deleted social media post: “Staph again.”
“This inbred however lives with Staph,” McGregor continued. “This team is infested, make no mistake. Scruff balls. Whatever ya’s are into, I suppose. He still subs Dustin in the 1st.”
Islam Makhachev hits back at staph infection claims ahead of UFC 302
Makhachev had decided to ignore the accusation heading into tonight’s pre-fight press conference. But towards the end of proceedings, he was asked about whether or not he was dealing with staph infection by a member of the media.
The champion, who had to speak over a rowdy New Jersey crowd, smirked at the idea before replying: “Don’t worry guys, I had a [very good] training camp. Nothing is bothering me, and I’ll be 100 per cent on Saturday night.”
There is no strong evidence to indicate that Makhachev has staph infection, aside from social media sleuthing. He is no stranger to such controversies, with many accusing him of using an illegal IV ahead of his UFC 284 fight with Alexander Volkanovski after seeing a mark on his arm in a promotional photo.
That accusation was disproven by the Western Australia Combat Sport Commission Chairman Bob Kucera. He said in a statement at the time that “The Commission has no conclusive evidence that any athlete at the UFC 284 event held at RAC Arena has breached WADA or the commission’s policies.
“The Commission has not received a complaint relating to any athlete at the UFC 284 event held at RAC Arena. The Commission invites anyone with any relevant information to contact us.”
The mark was believed to ultimately have been due to blood testing, which is standard medical practice for all fighters during a camp.