Benoit Saint-Denis staph infection watch starts again at UFC 329
Benoit Saint-Denis is back under the microscope for a familiar reason. Fight fans scanning weigh-in photos from UFC 329 believe they've spotted signs of staph infection on the French lightweight — reportedly the third time he's faced such accusations.
The speculation kicked off days before fight week, according to MMA Mania, after ceremonial weigh-in images from Sydney showed what observers interpreted as telltale marks. Saint-Denis, who faces Paddy Pimblett at UFC 329, has dealt with similar scrutiny in past camps when visible skin irregularities sparked debate about whether he was carrying an active infection into the octagon.
Saint-Denis staph history raises questions for UFC 329
Staph infections remain a persistent problem in combat sports, particularly among grapplers who spend hours on gym mats. The bacterial infection spreads through skin contact and can sideline fighters for weeks if left untreated. Multiple outlets have documented Saint-Denis dealing with visible skin issues in the lead-up to previous bouts, though none resulted in fight cancellations.
Saint-Denis weighed in on schedule Friday and showed no signs of missing Saturday's card. Pimblett has not publicly addressed the speculation. UFC 329 takes place at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney with the lightweight clash positioned on the main card.
Photo: James English / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
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