DISGUSTING! Dana White blasts UFC 294 fighters for lying about death-causing staph infection and putting opponents at risk

CEO Dana White rips UFC 294 fighters for short-sightedness on hiding staph infections during bout. He expects to implement change to protect the fighters.


DISGUSTING! Dana White blasts UFC 294 fighters for lying about death-causing staph infection and putting opponents at risk

Dana White condemns the action of fighters who fought with a staph infection at UFC 294 (Source: IMAGO)

Fighting at the UFC 294 Prelims, two fighters revealed their unhinged and self-absorbed choices to fight along with staph infections. Firstly, Russian strawweight Victoria Dudakova admitted to fighting with a staph infection, which had burst by the fight’s end. Following this, Mike Breeden admitted to the same. CEO Dana White has frowned on and criticized them in the harshest of terms

White was asked to address the matter at the post-fight press conference. He was asked if he would change the routine and testing so that this does not happen again. White said they have fights every Saturday, so that would be pointless. He further said:

Here’s one of the things: if you’re gonna lie and hide injuries like that, lie all the way home. Why are you gonna lie and do that and then sit up here and say, ‘I had a staph infection.’ It’s just a very f**king weird thing to do, to be honest with you. Very weird.
Dana White during the post-fight presser

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Going three pounds beyond the 156-pound limit, Breeden had already sparked controversy at the prelims. He won his bout with a third-round KO. Speaking at the press conference (h/t MMA Junkie), Bredeen said:

I got staph infection. So I was on antibiotics. I had it when I left [for Abu Dhabi].
Mike Breeden said during the press conference

Dudakova, who coincidentally also exceeded her limit, said she had passed out during weight-cutting. Through a translator, she said:

My butt is completely bloodied up right now. I have staph infection in places that it’s not necessarily okay to announce to the whole world.
Victoria Dudakova said via translator

Staphylococcus infection, or staph, is a bacterial infection that happens among fighters. It is characterized by boils, blisters, and oozing punctures on the epidermal layers and around the nose. It can spread by human contact. Lying about it is hence frowned upon within the combative sports culture. With bloodied mats, sweat muddled up, and fighters in contact, a chance of delegating on the disease always runs a high risk.

Dustin Poirier, Mark Hunt, Robert Whittaker, and many more have faced this infection in the past. As of late, former middleweight title challenger Paulo Costa had to pull out of the UFC 294 card due to staph as well. He went through three major surgeries on his arm. Although hopeful of recovering after the second one, he had recently announced that he would not be cleared in time.

Victoria Dudakova reveals horrifying imagery of fighting with staph infection at prelims

Russian fighter Victoria Dudakova took part in the early prelims of UFC 294. In the post-fight conference, she revealed fighting with having incurred a serious case of staph. While done on her part to probably garner some sympathy, the news had rocked the MMA world, fans and peers alike. Even CEO Dana White reprimanded her careless choice in the matter.

Victoria Dudakova fought with a staph infection at UFC 294
Victoria Dudakova fought with a staph infection at UFC 294 (Source: Pinterest)

Dudakova fought Jinh Yu Frey in the strawweight division. With a 7-0 record, she edged out a win against her opponent in the sophomore bout. She had also previously missed weight, hooping high with 0.6 lbs over the limit. She mentioned that this time around, she could not attribute the bout to any wrestling. The infection, which she had for the past several months, had reached her glutes. She gave a vivid imagery of it with the help of a translator.

Dudakova also mentioned not drinking any antibiotics to ease the pain. She added that taking antibiotics made breathing harder in high-octane combative within the octagon. She had also lied about the test results to stay on the card.

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