Staph infection, broken arm, more

Sean Strickland is aware of will probably be declared as excuses, however he simply needs to clarify what occurred previous to UFC 312.

The primary indicators Strickland (29-7 MMA, 16-7 UFC) won’t be in peak situation for this previous Saturday’s middleweight title rematch with Dricus Du Plessis (23-2 MMA, 9-0 UFC), which he misplaced by unanimous choice, got here up throughout combat week when photos of staph an infection on his arm have been found.

Strickland downplayed it as a difficulty when requested on the pre-fight press convention, nevertheless it has since been revealed that he had a case of the virus a number of weeks previous to UFC 312. That was simply one of many issues he needed to navigate all through coaching camp, as a result of Strickland mentioned he additionally skilled an arm damage that he described as a break.

“This isn’t an excuse, however that whole camp was a battle of, ‘I’m good,’ (however) figuring out you’re not good,” Strickland mentioned in a video on his social media. “I used to be in Columbia like eight weeks out, seven weeks out getting stem cells on a damaged bone. Bone healed high quality, not an excuse, it simply form of weighs behind your head. I used to be coaching with (Reinier) de Ridder, the submission man, and he hit me with a whizzer, and it was already damaged, however dude, I believed my arm f*cking snapped.

“I used to be like, ‘I’ve bought to go to f*cking Columbia, that is f*cked.’ All camp that is simply behind your head and also you’re simply telling your self, ‘I’m f*cking good.’ … However all camp, whether or not it’s the staph an infection, the damaged arm, the having to get a VISA that didn’t get accepted till per week (earlier than), not figuring out if I’ll get cornermen on the market. This whole camp was a battle of like, ‘I’m not good.’ However look within the mirror and say, ‘Sack up.’”

Strickland, 33, reiterated a number of instances all through his four-minute video that he was not making an attempt to make excuses. Nevertheless, he felt compelled to clarify a few of the context round his coaching camp after his longtime Xtreme Couture coach Eric Nicksick provided a public criticism of his efficiency.

Nonetheless, Strickland mentioned he intends to push ahead in his UFC profession (seemingly with out Nicksick in his nook), and do what’s needed to enhance his recreation after failing to regain the belt.

“Nothing away from Dricus – he got here in there and f*cking fought his ass off, broke my nostril,” Strickland mentioned. “Hell yeah. Hat’s off. You fought like a f*cking man. However I don’t combat to place belts on the wall, I don’t f*cking combat as a result of Eric needs to go do a flowery podcast. That’s not why I combat. Earlier than combating I had the bottom vanity, couldn’t even have a look at myself within the mirror. I don’t know what dignity was once I first began combating and although combating, I’ve realized a lot. I’ve met so many superb folks.

“… I’ve bought plenty of fights left on my contract. I like combating. I’m going again to the gymnasium and dealing my ass off and I’m ranging from f*cking sq. one. And that’s simply how life is. You’ll at all times get a step again the place you’re like, ‘All proper, I’ve bought to start out yet again.’ And also you make a option to both sack up and also you f*cking do it, otherwise you stop. And I’m going to sack up and do it.”

For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC 312.