TLDR
- Benoit Saint-Denis denied having a staph infection after fans spotted a wound on his ankle
- The UFC lightweight will fight Paddy Pimblett in the co-main event of UFC 329 on July 11, 2026
- Saint-Denis has dealt with staph infection concerns before, including an actual infection during his fight with Dustin Poirier
- The fighter said the mark is just a scab and his training camp went well
- The co-main event bout remains scheduled as planned for Saturday in Las Vegas
Sources: sports.yahoo.com
UFC lightweight fighter Benoit Saint-Denis has shut down concerns that he is dealing with a staph infection just days before his scheduled fight. The French fighter will face Paddy Pimblett in the co-main event of UFC 329 on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Fans spotted a wound on Saint-Denis’ ankle late last week and quickly began speculating on social media that he had another staph infection. The No. 5-ranked lightweight fighter responded quickly to calm the concerns.
“No, I don’t have staph,” Saint-Denis told RMC Sport Combat. “Things can move very quickly on social media now, and it gets a bit ridiculous.”
The fighter confirmed he did have a scab on his foot but insisted it was nothing serious. “I did have a scab on my foot, yes, but it’s not staph,” he explained.
Benoit Saint-Denis shuts down rumors that he has a staph infection:
"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.
That’s all it was. These are things that can… pic.twitter.com/m3ZJ88HD0Y
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) July 7, 2026
History of Staph Concerns
The reaction from fans did not come from nowhere. Saint-Denis has faced questions about staph infections multiple times in his recent career.
Before UFC 315, fans noticed a nasty wound on his head and raised similar concerns. He also admitted to fighting through an actual staph infection during his bout against Dustin Poirier, a fight he lost by knockout.
Given this history, fans were watching closely for any signs of health issues. Any mark or wound on his body was likely to draw attention and questions.
“That’s all it was,” Saint-Denis said about the current scab. “These are things that can happen.”
Training Camp Went Well
The fighter also addressed his preparation for the upcoming bout against Pimblett. He said his training camp went smoothly despite the scab.
“The camp was managed very well,” Saint-Denis stated. “The fatigue was managed very well too.”
Saint-Denis, known by his nickname “God of War,” previously fought at UFC 325 in Sydney, Australia in February 2026. He will now return to the octagon after a five-month break.
Paddy Pimblett, his opponent, is a former interim title challenger who goes by the nickname “The Baddy.” The fight is one of the most anticipated matchups on the UFC 329 card.
Staph infections are a common concern in mixed martial arts due to the close contact nature of training and competition. Fighters who train with open wounds or in unsanitary conditions face higher risks of infection.
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The infections can be dangerous if left untreated and often force fighters to pull out of scheduled bouts. Many fans remember instances where fighters had to withdraw from major cards due to staph.
Saint-Denis wanted to make it clear that this situation is different. He emphasized that the mark on his ankle is simply a scab from normal training activities.
As of Wednesday, the co-main event between Saint-Denis and Pimblett remains scheduled as planned for Saturday night in Las Vegas.
