Merab Dvalishvili insists he does not have Staph infection.
It doesn’t sound like the UFC doctor was willing to take his word for it, which is why “The Machine” had to interrupt his pre-fight media interview for an impromptu arm inspection. The exact cause of the injury was not revealed; however, the words “anti-fungal” were mentioned.
“I’m sorry my friend, UFC doctor just checking me out,” Dvalishvili told NY Post. “They was like … looking at this, I have nothing. They thought I had something but I’m good.”
“I take a picture and a lot of people comment, they was thinking I have Staph inspection, but I’m good, I don’t have nothing,” Dvalishvili continued. “There is no Staph infection.”
Dvalishvili, who challenges Sean O’Malley for the bantamweight strap at UFC 306 on Sept. 14 at The Sphere, sent fans into a panic when he was spotted with a mysterious arm infection just 11 days out from his fight. That’s in addition to the laceration he posted on social media just a few weeks prior.
Let’s hope Usman Nurmagomedov has been keeping his cardio up, just in case.