Staph Infection Pulls Robert Drysdale Out of Octagon Debut at UFC 163 [UPDATED]

(Drysdale’s most recent win, against DJ Linderman at Legacy FC 19 in April.)

The UFC’s current injury bug just sunk one of the most exciting promotional debuts of the year. As first reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, jiu-jitsu phenom Robert Drysdale has been forced out of his light-heavyweight match against Ednaldo Oliveira at UFC 163 (August 3rd in Rio), reportedly due to a staph infection. [Ed. note: Oh God…I just let Robert swim in my pool. Fuuuuuu-.]

After racking up a laundry list of grappling titles including an Open-Division gold medal at the 2007 Abu Dhabi Submission Wrestling World Championships, Drysdale began competing professionally in MMA in 2010, finishing all six of his opponents by first-round submission.

No word yet on when Drysdale will be ready to return to action, or if Oliveira — who kind of dodged a bullet, here — will remain on the card against a different opponent. If any gross photos of Drysdale’s staph infection hit the Internet, we’ll be sure to let you know.

Update: According to a Tatame report, Ednaldo Oliveira will remain on the card against Nova Uniao 205’er Francimar Barosso. Barosso has a 15-3 record, with 14 of his wins by stoppage, and once head-kick KO’d a dude in five seconds.

Related: MMA Fighter/Grappling Guru Robert Drysdale Talks Training, Fighting, Judging, and Body Hair


(Drysdale’s most recent win, against DJ Linderman at Legacy FC 19 in April.)

The UFC’s current injury bug just sunk one of the most exciting promotional debuts of the year. As first reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, jiu-jitsu phenom Robert Drysdale has been forced out of his light-heavyweight match against Ednaldo Oliveira at UFC 163 (August 3rd in Rio), reportedly due to a staph infection. [Ed. note: Oh God…I just let Robert swim in my pool. Fuuuuuu-.]

After racking up a laundry list of grappling titles including an Open-Division gold medal at the 2007 Abu Dhabi Submission Wrestling World Championships, Drysdale began competing professionally in MMA in 2010, finishing all six of his opponents by first-round submission.

No word yet on when Drysdale will be ready to return to action, or if Oliveira — who kind of dodged a bullet, here — will remain on the card against a different opponent. If any gross photos of Drysdale’s staph infection hit the Internet, we’ll be sure to let you know.

Update: According to a Tatame report, Ednaldo Oliveira will remain on the card against Nova Uniao 205′er Francimar Barosso. Barosso has a 15-3 record, with 14 of his wins by stoppage, and once head-kick KO’d a dude in five seconds.

Related: MMA Fighter/Grappling Guru Robert Drysdale Talks Training, Fighting, Judging, and Body Hair