Lamont J. Mathews, Louisiana prisoner # 120891, has filed a motion for leave to proceed on appeal in forma pauperis (IFP) following the district court’s order dismissing his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 civil rights action in part for failure to exhaust administrative remedies and in part for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. See 42 U.S.C. § 1997e; 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii). By moving for IFP, Mathews is challenging the district court’s certification that IFP status should not be granted because the appeal is not taken in good faith. See Baugh v. Taylor, 117 F.3d 197, 202 (5th Cir. 1997). Mathews’s IFP “motion must be directed solely to the trial court’s reasons for the certification decision.” See id.

Mathews has briefed the merits of his First Amendment, denial of access to the courts, and retaliation claims only, and he has not shown that there is a nonfrivolous issue with respect to the district court’s determination that those claims were unexhausted and with respect to the district court’s determination that Mathews’s liberty interests were not infringed in a prison disciplinary proceeding that resulted in a change in his custody classification only. Although pro se briefs are afforded liberal construction, Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520-21, 92 S.Ct. 594, 30 L.Ed.2d *791 652 (1972), even pro se litigants must brief arguments in order to preserve them. Yohey v. Collins, 985 F.2d 222, 224-25 (5th Cir. 1993). Because Mathews has not directed his motion to the reasons for the certification decision, he has effectively waived the only issues that are relevant to his motion for IFP status on appeal. See id.

Mathews moved the district court for appointment of counsel. Mathews contends that the district court erred in dismissing the complaint without ruling on the motion, and he has moved this court for appointment of counsel. Mathews has not shown that this case presents exceptional circumstances requiring appointment of counsel. See Cupit v. Jones, 835 F.2d 82, 86 (5th Cir. 1987).

Mathews’s request for IFP status is denied, and his appeal is dismissed as frivolous. See Baugh, 117 F.3d at 202 n. 24; 5th Cir. R. 42.2. The dismissal of this appeal as frivolous counts as a strike under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). See Adepegba v. Hammons, 103 F.3d 383, 388 (5th Cir. 1996). Mathews has at least one prior strike. See Mathews v. Stalder, 115 Fed.Appx. 300 (5th Cir. 2004). We caution Mathews that, once he accumulates three strikes, he may not proceed IFP in any civil action or appeal filed while he is incarcerated or detained in any facility unless he is under imminent danger of serious physical injury. See § 1915(g).

IFP DENIED; APPEAL DISMISSED; SANCTION WARNING ISSUED; MOTION FOR APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL DENIED.