MMA social media loves to speculate, but Justin Gaethje says this one is all wrong.
With less than three weeks until Gaethje (26-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) meets Paddy Pimblett (23-3 MMA, 7-0 UFC) for the interim lightweight championship at UFC 324 on Jan. 24 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (Paramount+), images have been pulled from a YouTube video blog put out by “The Highlight” questioning whether he has staph infection on his neck.
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Gaethje defended himself in short order, taking to social media to claim that still images of his neck and lip are not even close to what they’ve been made out to be, and offered a different explanation (via X):
With concerns about his health alleviated, Gaethje shifts focus to his opportunity to claim a piece of the 155-pound belt and become the first two-time interim champion in UFC history.
Gaethje, 37, has said he believes the UFC wants Pimblett to win at UFC 324 to set up a grudge match with Ilia Topuria for the undisputed belt, but he vows to derail those plans and position himself for a showdown with Topuria at UFC White House this summer.
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This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Justin Gaethje dismisses UFC 324 staph infection speculation
