UFC star banned for three months for failing to disclose highly contagious potentially deadly disease

ILIR LATIFI has been suspended for three months after failing to disclose a potentially life-threatening skin infection.

The 39-year-old heavyweight contender defeated Aleksei Oleinik by unanimous decision at UFC Vegas 61.

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And after the October fight, the Swede admitted he had a staph infection but didn’t tell his trainer.

Latifi revealed: “Even this week my leg is all swollen, I didn’t even tell my trainers but I got a staph infection two days ago.

“It’s an amazing sport but the margins are so slim. You put in so much work and this thing is happening on the last day.

“When I woke up today my leg was swollen and I was like, ‘I can’t cancel again,’ so I was struggling with a fever and a staph infection, but that’s part of being a fighter.”

The Nevada Athletic Commission introduced the ban after Latifi withheld the pre-fight information.

The decision was classified as “potentially life-threatening” because a staph infection can be deadly.

Latifi will be eligible to compete again in 2023.

He was told to pay over £300 in legal fees to get the case resolved.

Meanwhile, Conor McGregor has announced plans to make his much-anticipated return to the UFC “early” next year.

The MMA superstar is in the final stages of recovery from the horrific broken leg he sustained in his trilogy fight with rival Dustin Poirier last July.