Staph infection, broken arm, more

Sean Strickland is aware of it is going to be declared as excuses, however he simply desires to elucidate 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 resolution, got here up throughout struggle week when pictures of staph an infection on his arm have been found.

Strickland downplayed it as a difficulty when requested on the pre-fight press convention, but it surely 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 stated he additionally skilled an arm harm that he described as a break.

“This isn’t an excuse, however that complete camp was a battle of, ‘I’m good,’ (however) understanding you’re not good,” Strickland stated 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 nice, not an excuse, it simply sort of weighs at the back of 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 assumed my arm f*cking snapped.

“I used to be like, ‘I’ve received to go to f*cking Columbia, that is f*cked.’ All camp that is simply at the back of your head and also you’re simply telling your self, ‘I’m f*cking good.’ … However all camp, whether or not or not it’s the staph an infection, the damaged arm, the having to get a VISA that didn’t get authorized till every week (earlier than), not understanding if I’ll get cornermen on the market. This complete 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 occasions all through his four-minute video that he was not making an attempt to make excuses. Nevertheless, he felt compelled to elucidate a number of the context round his coaching camp after his longtime Xtreme Couture coach Eric Nicksick provided a public criticism of his efficiency.

However, Strickland stated he intends to push ahead in his UFC profession (seemingly with out Nicksick in his nook), and do what’s vital to enhance his sport 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 stated. “Hell yeah. Hat’s off. You fought like a f*cking man. However I don’t struggle to place belts on the wall, I don’t f*cking struggle as a result of Eric desires to go do a flowery podcast. That’s not why I struggle. Earlier than preventing I had the bottom shallowness, couldn’t even take a look at myself within the mirror. I don’t know what dignity was after I first began preventing and although preventing, I’ve discovered a lot. I’ve met so many superb folks.

“… I’ve received a whole lot of fights left on my contract. I really like preventing. I’m going again to the fitness center and dealing my ass off and I’m ranging from f*cking sq. one. And that’s simply how life is. You’ll all the time get a step again the place you’re like, ‘All proper, I’ve received to start out another time.’ And also you make a option to both sack up and also you f*cking do it, otherwise you give up. 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.