Did Benoit Saint Denis have staph?

Benoit ‘God Of War’ Saint-Denis, born on December 18, 1995, in Nimes, France, is a rising star in the UFC's lightweight division (155 lbs). A former member of the French Army Special Forces, Saint-Denis transitioned to professional MMA in 2019. He made his promotional debut in the UFC in October 2021 at UFC 267, though he lost to Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos. After dropping to the lightweight division, he began to gain momentum with a string of impressive victories. In 2022, he secured submission and knockout wins against Niklas Stolze and Gabriel Miranda, respectively. His performance in 2023 further established his credentials, with notable wins against Ismael Bonfim, Thiago Moises, and Matt Frevola.

Known for his grappling prowess and aggressive striking, Saint-Denis has finished all of his victories either by knockout or submission. His relentless pressure and ability to control the pace of fights make him a dangerous opponent in the lightweight division. His next outing will see him headline UFC Fight Night 243 against Renato Moicano​.

Benoit Saint-Denis Staph Infection

Benoit Saint-Denis faced a significant hurdle leading up to his fight at UFC 299, as he was diagnosed with a staph infection just days before his fight. Adding in the rigorous weight cut only made his fight week one of the worst in his career thus far. Medicated on antibiotics, Saint-Denis proceeded with his bout against Dustin Poirier. After the fight, Saint-Denis admitted that the infection and fatigue drained him, making his performance sluggish. He struggled through the fight, ultimately suffering a knockout loss in the second round, marking his second defeat in the UFC.

Saint-Denis also stated that he discovered the infection only two days before leaving for the event and had to quickly start treatment. He debated with his team whether to proceed, but decided to fight despite his compromised condition, as a win would have catapulted him to the top of the rankings.