MMA
Israel Adesanya says UFC 248 fight isn't in jeopardy, calls mark on arm 'little scrape'
When fans noticed a legion-like mark on Israel Adesanya's left forearm a few days back, many speculated and feared that it was a staph infection, which could jeopardize his fight against Yoel Romero at UFC 248.
But while appearing on Ariel Helwani's MMA Show on Monday, Adesanya said that it's not a staph infection and that nothing is going to stop him from defending his middleweight title against Romero on Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
“It’s just a little something, a little scrape of myself," Adesanya told Helwani, showing the painful-looking mark on his left arm. "That s— happens, but whatever.”
When asked if Saturday night's main event was in jeopardy, "The Last Stylebender" responded with a resounding: "F— no! I'm here. I'm here.
“A little something," he continued, referring to the mark on his arm. "I’ve never had staph. I never will. I mean, f—ing hell, I’ve had malaria damn near eight times. I don’t know what else I’ve had. Like you think staph’s going to f— with me?”
Throughout the buildup toward the fight, Adesanya has talked about having no fear of the "boogeyman" of the middleweight division in the 42-year-old Romero.The undefeated champion even told UFC Australia/New Zealand: "Will he be the first one to beat me? Keep dreaming, b—!"
Adesanya was originally on a collision course with Paulo Costa, but the Brazilian fighter suffered a biceps injury that paved the way for the middleweight champ to call out Romero, instead.
