“Hello France – unfortunately this evening I was not able to fully prove myself,” the Frenchman wrote on social media. “My body couldn’t take it after a week of taking antibiotics to fight the infection. My body didn’t react in the fight as it usually does and I only had one round for you guys.”
“Sorry to disappoint you, but I will come back stronger than I was before. Thank you Dustin for accepting the fight. It was unthinkable for me to turn down the opportunity for a fight like this. Thank you all for your support, thank you to my team and my family”
Speculation that the Frenchman was ill began after photos were released from a pre-fight photo shoot at UFC 299, in which fans saw a wound on St. Denis’ forehead clearly indicative of staphylococcus aureus.
The fight between Dustin Puryear and Benoit Saint-Denis, which was the second most important event of the numbered event, ended in the second round with a knockout victory for the American, with both lightweights receiving an additional $50,000 in bonuses as “Fight of the Night” participants.