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Dustin Poirier argues with Benoit Saint Denis over staph infection claim after UFC 299: ‘You don’t say that when you lose’

Dustin Poirier questions Benoit Saint Denis over staph infection you don't say something like that when you lose UFC lightweight Dustin Poirier downplays Benoit Saint Denis’ staph infection heading into their fight. Poirier vs. Saint Denis certainly…

UFC lightweight Dustin Poirier downplays Benoit Saint Denis’ staph infection heading into their fight.

Poirier vs. Saint Denis certainly delivered on expectations as the pair refused to back down from one another during their UFC 299 clash.

Saint-Denis would use his grappling in the first to likely bank the round, putting Poirier in some tough positions. It wasn’t until the second round where Poirier would implement his game. After surviving some early grappling exchanges the pair began to exchange on the feet.

Dustin Poirier takes issue with Joe Rogan's commentary after UFC 299 win I can't believe he said that — Mandatory Credit: Chris Unger – Zuffa LLC

Saint Denis waded in, chin up and with little head movement, which left him wide open for a counter right hook from Poirier which left the Frenchman flat on his back.

During fight week Saint Denis appeared to have a staph infection on his face. He would later confirm this following the loss, providing pictures and details of his antibiotic treatment.

Dustin Poirier questions Benoit Saint Denis’ staph infection claim

Staph, and a course of antibiotics will have an impact on athletic performance, but would the contest have been any different if he didn’t have it? No one can say 100%.

Dustin Poirier UFC 299 1 — Mandatory Credit: Chris Unger – Zuffa LLC

When talking to MMA Junkie, Poirier didn’t seem too impressed with Saint Denis’ ‘excuses’, urging the 28-year-old to ‘hush up’.

“You say those type of things — I had an infection, I was battling something — when you win, you don’t say that when you lose,” Poirier said. “I’ve gone into so many fights with staph infection, with fractured foot, with lacerated bicep. Staph infection in my ear! All kinds of stuff, that’s fighting. We’re on the mats everyday. Everybody has something going on going into fights but you can’t say that when you lose. You gotta hush it up.”

With the win Poirier has injected himself right back into the title picture and will likely be involved in big fight next. As for Saint Denis, he is still young and he will come back.

What would you like to see Dustin Poirier do next?

Sean O’Malley claims to have information which would ‘Ruin’ rival Marlon Vera: ‘People would change their minds on him’

UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley says he could ruin Marlon Vera’s life if he releases information to the public…

UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley says he could ruin Marlon Vera’s life if he releases information to the public that not many people know.

O’Malley scored a one-sided decision win over Vera at UFC 299 to defend his bantamweight title for the first time. After the fight, Vera accused ‘Suga’ of greasing and cheating in the fight.

Sean OMalley UFC 299 — Mandatory Credit: Chris Unger – Zuffa LLC

“Every time I was grabbing Sean, he was like grabbing a fish out of the water,” Vera told Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour. “Maybe he didn’t attempt to [cheat], but he was extremely greasy on his hair. And that’s why when I hurt him at the end of the round, I grabbed his head, the knee [slipped], all my knees [that slipped by] were really close. Maybe if it would’ve been dry, I could’ve hurt him. Maybe not. I’m still where I am for a reason — I lost the fight, and I’m not going to find [an] excuse, but matter of fact, his head was extremely greasy.”

Sean O’Malley fires back at Marlon Vera

Following Vera’s comments, Sean O’Malley spoke on his podcast, and ‘Suga’ says knows something about ‘Chito’ that would ruin his life as he calls Vera a fake person.

Sean OMalley UFC 299 2 — MIAMI, FLORIDA – MARCH 09: Sean O’Malley prepares to face Marlon Vera of Ecuador in the UFC bantamweight championship fight during the UFC 299 event at Kaseya Center on March 09, 2024 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

“Everybody seems to love this dude,” Vera said on his YouTube channel. “Motherf***er’s a fakeass b****. Chito sucks. F*** him. I know s*** that people don’t know that would change their minds on him, but I’m not gonna go out there and post it. People are like, ‘Oh, he’s just a family man.’ F*** that guy, bro.

” Then he comes out saying I’m greasing my hair. Bro didn’t even get close enough to smell my hair let alone think [I was greasing]. What was greasing my hair gonna do? I want to [leak this information]. I’m just like, be the bigger man, you don’t need to ruin his f***ing life, you already ruined his career. Just be the bigger man.”

Vera has yet to respond to O’Malley’s comment and whether or not he will is uncertain.

Sean O’Malley switches gears, wants to fight Merab Dvalishvili after calling out Ilia Topuria at UFC 299

After calling out Ilia Topuria at UFC 299, bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley is now turning his attention toward the…

After calling out Ilia Topuria at UFC 299, bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley is now turning his attention toward the division’s top-ranked contender.

‘Sugar’ secured his first defense of the 135-pound crown on March 9, delivering a dominant performance against the only man to have defeated him in his mixed martial arts career thus far, Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera. O’Malley scored himself a heaping dose of redemption, outstriking his challenger 232 to 89 and running away with a win on all three scorecards.

Immediately following the contest, O’Malley called for a superfight with current featherweight titleholder Ilia Topuria. The call-out was met with immediate backlash with many pundits suggesting that Sean O’Malley was trying to dodge the No. 1 ranked Merab Dvalishvili.

Now, ‘Sugar’ has seemingly changed his tune, declaring that he wants to fight ‘The Machine’ next.

“I WANT MARAB,” O’Malley wrote on X. “2025 will be legendary.”

Merab Dvalishvili has nothing, but respect for Sean O’Malley

Riding a 10-fight win streak dating back to 2018, Merab Dvalishvili left no question regarding his status as the next man in line with his impressive victory over Henry Cejudo last month. ‘The Machine’ outworked the former two-division titleholder, earning a decision victory in the process.

“He’s very technical, his footwork and reach works,” Dvalishvili said of Sean O’Malley during a recent interview with The Schmo. “I mean he’s working and getting better and I look at him as a good challenge, he’s a dangerous opponent for me and as a fighter. I have so much respect for him but we all have to find out this is MMA, we all saw a kickboxing fight on Saturday it was just all strikes, he’s done very good against grapplers before, but let’s see how he does with me, I’m the next guy we all know.”

As for Sean O’Malley, the bantamweight champ is now 18-1 in MMA following the events of UFC 299.

Benoit Saint-Denis provides health update, vows to get revenge against ‘Louisana guy’ Dustin Poirier

Benoit Saint-Denis has provided a health update following his UFC 299 knockout loss to Dustin Poirier. Saint-Denis entered the…

Benoit Saint-Denis has provided a health update following his UFC 299 knockout loss to Dustin Poirier.

Saint-Denis entered the fight as the betting favorite and many thought he would run through Poirier. In the first round, he had success, but in the second round, he started to gas and Dustin Poirier made him pay. Poirier landed a big uppercut and then a right hook that knocked Saint-Denis out.

Dustin Poirier lands stunning KO win over Benoit Saint Denis in rsllying performance UFC 299 Highlights — Mandatory Credit: Chris Unger – Zuffa LLC

Following the loss, Saint-Denis’s wife Lalou took to Instagram to provide an update on the Frenchman and revealed he won’t need surgery.

“On the health side, the broken nose does not require surgery, two stitches on an arch, blood pressure at 10 on the day,” his wife Lalou wrote on Instagram (via Le Colisee). “He rehydrated little by little, he continues to take antibiotics. We sleep more than 12 hours a night, which hasn’t happened in eight months. He is disappointed in himself. Defeat leaves him with a bitter taste that he will no longer want to taste. Believe me. Thank you all for your energy in supporting our champion in good times and bad.”

Benoit Saint-Denis (@BenoitSt_Denis) confirmed speculation that he was "fighting with infection" in his #UFC299 loss to Dustin Poirier (@DustinPoirier).https://t.co/QNSdCirX8y

— LowKickMMA.com (@LowKick_MMA) March 10, 2024

It is good news that Saint-Denis won’t need surgery following his UFC 299 loss. But, he was given a 60-day medical suspension following the knockout loss.

Benoit Saint-Denis vows to get revenge on Dustin Poirier

Although Benoit Saint-Denis did get knocked out by Dustin Poirier, the Frenchman says the Staph infection did impact his cardio.

Going into the fight, Saint-Denis knew he had one round of cardio, but he says he has confidence he will climb the rankings again to get his revenge against Poirier.

“I fought completely dehydrated, frustration is huge but it’s hard to judge when to cancel such an opportunity,” Saint-Denis added. “I’m going to get back to work and fix some things that can’t be neglected and never give you a shadow of myself again. God tests us in so many ways, I’m blessed to be well surrounded and have tremendous support. It’s up to us to show you the ‘BSD’ of the last fights when I return, and earn my revenge against this Louisiana guy.”

Dustin Poirier calls for title fight with Islam Makhachev in June after shocking KO win at UFC 299 — Mandatory Credit: Megan Briggs

With the loss, to Poirier, Saint-Denis is now 13-2 and one No Contest and is now 5-2 in the UFC.

Islam Makhachev eyes June title fight with Dustin Poirier after UFC 299: ‘He has a good guillotine’

Islam Makhachev has welcomed the prospect of a June title showdown with UFC 299 big winner, Dustin Poirier –…

Islam Makhachev has welcomed the prospect of a June title showdown with UFC 299 big winner, Dustin Poirier – claiming the Lafayette native possesses a good guillotine choke in response to his call out for a summer championship fight.

Makhachev, the current undisputed lightweight champion and pound-for-pound number one ranked fighter on the promotion’s books, has been sidelined since last October, most recently turning in a blistering first round high-kick and strikes knockout win over Alexander Volkanovski in the pair’s title rematch.

Islam Makhachev set to fight twice this year ahead of expected UFC return — Mandatory Credit: Giuseppe Cacece

As for Poirier, the Louisianan co-headlined UFC 299 last weekend in Miami, landing an impressive second round KO win over surging French contender, Benoit Saint-Denis – after battling through some notable adversity, and apparent fatigue, according to veteran caller, Joe Rogan.

Islam Makhachev calls for Dustin Poirier title fight next

Receiving an almost immediate offer Makhachev’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz of a June title fight against his client, Poirier has welcomed the prospect of fighting the dominant Russian calling out the former for a June showdown next.

“I know Dustin (Poirier) does not deserve a title fight, but we don’t have any [other] option right now,” Islam Makhachev told MMA Junkie. “Everybody is busy, but I want to fight, you know? I want to fight three times in the year, that’s why I just have to call out someone, and Poirier is free now. And he showed an excellent performance, and scored a beautiful knockout. …”

“He’s a legend, he’s beat a lot of tough guys,” Islam Makhachev said. “And he’s a tough opponent, too. He has a good guillotine.”

Sidelined through the coming months amid his participation in the religious period of Ramadan, Makhachev was rumored to fight for welterweight gold at UFC 300 next month – in a monstrous fight against undisputed gold holder, Leon Edwards, ultimately to no avail.

Who wins in a potential June title fight: Dustin Poirier or Islam Makhachev?

Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera accuses Sean O’Malley of greasing before UFC 299 title fight: ‘How much gel they use’

Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera is accusing Sean O’Malley of greasing ahead of their UFC 299 title fight in Miami. On…

Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera is accusing Sean O’Malley of greasing ahead of their UFC 299 title fight in Miami.

On Saturday (March 9), O’Malley delivered a dominant performance in his first defense of the bantamweight world title, scoring a unanimous decision victory over the only man to have bested him inside the Octagon.

Vera appeared to be humble in defeat, offering no excuses for his performance and showing confidence in his ability to bounce back. However, all of that seemed to change when ‘Chito’ accused O’Malley of greasing. For those unfamiliar, greasing is when a fighter uses a substance that makes himself slippery — an unfair advantage in a sport where grappling and controlling your opponent’s body is an essential aspect.

“Who braid your hair @SugaSeanMMA you where grease to the bone I wonder how much gel they use?” Vera wrote on X.

Generally, when one fighter accuses another of greasing, it’s because they were unable to secure takedowns or even get their hands wrapped around an opponent. Interestingly, ‘Chito’ never once looked to take things down to the ground against O’Malley in their rematch. According to the official stat sheet, he never attempted a takedown, let alone secured one, and clocked zero control time.

Sean O’Malley snaps back at ‘chito’

Responding to Vera’s accusation, Sean O’Malley requested ‘Chito’ Vera forward him a picture of his mangled face.

“Send pic of your face,” O’Malley responded.

Vera has yet to respond to O’Malley’s request, but plenty of fight fans were willing to give the champ a helping hand, posting an image of Vera’s face after eating 230 significant strikes over the 25-minute affair.

With their series officially tied at 1-1, perhaps we’ll see a trilogy fight between the two bantamweight stars. But for now, Vera will go back to the drawing board after failing to head back home with gold wrapped around his waist.