CONOR MCGREGOR has branded Kelvin Gastelum an “absolute scruff” after seeing a photo of the UFC middleweight looking worse for wear.
Former interim 185lb title challenger Gastelum, 31, was forced to withdraw from his UFC Vegas 67 showdown with Nassourdine Imavov on Saturday night due to a facial injury.
GETTYKelvin Gastelum was due to be in action at UFC Vegas 67 this weekend[/caption]
But a mouth injury forced him out of his clash with Nassourdine ImavovGETTY
The TUF 17 winner was brutally trolled by Conor McGregor after a photo of his injury went viral
Photos of a toothless Gastelum started doing the rounds on social media after news of his withdrawal, although the eyes of many – including those of McGregor – were drawn to what appeared to be a sore on his face.
And McGregor claimed the open wound was the result of a staph infection, saying: “Absolute scruff this thing is.
“That’s full on staph infection all over his f***ing face.
“A full f***ing hole omg and it’s his second attempt to enter competition like this. WTF!
“Clean your mats. Wash yourself. F***ing go to the doctor. Scruff.”
McGregor’s claim that Gastelum tried to fight twice with a staph infection is in reference to the American’s admission he was dealing with a flare-up before his axed UFC 234 fight with Robert Whittaker in February 2019.
There is no evidence that Gastelum does have a staph infection.
Staph infections are caused by staphylococcus bacteria – which are present on everyone’s skin – and usually result in minor skin problems.
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They can, however, be fatal if the infection enters a person’s bloodstream, bones, joints, heart or lungs.
They’re not uncommon in mixed martial arts gyms due to intense grappling fighters perform on sweat-covered mats.
Gastelum has yet to respond to McGregor’s verbal slamming, although he did post footage of dentists sowing his tooth into his gums to his Instagram story.
Ultimate Fighter season 17 winner Gastelum also took to Twitter to convey his devastation at being forced to withdraw from the UFC’s first main event of 2023.
He wrote: “I’m extremely disappointed to say the least.
“This [is] not how I wanted to start 2023.
“I worked my ass off & battled through a lot of adversary and was ready to put on a hell of a show this weekend.
“I apologize to Imavov, his camp as well as @ufc and all the fans.”
Former two-division champion McGregor, meanwhile, is targeting a return to the octagon later this year after recovering from the horrific broken leg he suffered in the summer of 2021.
INSTAGRAM@KELVINGASTELUMKelvin Gastelum had his tooth stitched back into his gums[/caption] Read More