Strickland downplayed it as an issue when asked at the pre-fight press conference, but it has since been revealed that he had a case of the virus several weeks prior to UFC 312. That was just one of the problems he had to navigate throughout training camp, because Strickland said he also experienced an arm injury that he described as a break.

In the video, Strickland admitted to dealing with a staph infection and another serious injury issue. The word ‘struggle’ was used to describe what he viewed as a disastrous camp for his rematch with Dricus Du Plessis. “That entire fight camp was just a struggle. It was a f—— struggle,” Strickland said.

Sean Strickland made no excuses in his first statement since having his nose shattered in his UFC 312 rematch vs. Dricus Du Plessis.

Sean Strickland has taken to social media to respond to his defeat at UFC 312, and the video shows what his nose looks like now.

Sean Strickland ‘s attempt at becoming a two-time UFC middleweight champion fell short in the UFC 312 headliner. After five rounds of a largely dominant showing by Dricus du Plessis, Strickland lost by unanimous decision to drop to 0-2 against the current middleweight titleholder.

Sean Strickland and longtime coach Eric Nicksick aren't on the same page in the aftermath of UFC 312. Sean Strickland’s coach brutally honest on Dricus du Plessis fight: ‘Like he was sleepwalking' One of a few select Xtreme Couture fighters that's been coached to a UFC world championship,