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.

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 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,

Strickland (29-6 MMA, 16-6 UFC) challenges middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis (22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) in a title-fight rematch, which headlines Saturday’s event at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney ( ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN2, ESPN+).