Justin Gaethje is set to face Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324 on January 24th, but some recent images making the rounds have put that bout in question due to the possibility of a staph infection.

The footage of Gaethje with a potential staph infection on his neck surfaced earlier this week, and sent an immediate scare through the MMA community in fear that the headliner of the first UFC event of the year might be in jeopardy.

Fans are speculating that Justin Gaethje could be dealing with a staph infection after footage surfaced showing a mysterious wound on his neck just a few weeks out from #UFC324 😬 pic.twitter.com/pdG4jZ8BkD

— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) January 6, 2026

But, Gaethje seems to have cleared things up now, almost right after the rumors were started in the first place, pointing to an ingrown hair being the cause of the blemish on his neck.

Did you screen shot me eating brisket from my YouTube video to make it look like I have herpes on my lip? 😂 my neck is a healing ingrown hair.

— Justin Gaethje 🇺🇸 (@Justin_Gaethje) January 6, 2026

UFC 324 will go down live from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on January 24th, 2026. In addition to the main event between Gaethje and Pimblett, which at this time seems very much alive, former two-division champion Amanda Nunes will return from retirement to face the UFC’s new 135-pound queen Kayla Harrison.

In addition to this being the first UFC event of the New Year, this will also be the first card to take place under the new Paramount+ broadcast deal as the UFC ended its agreement with ESPN in 2025.