Dillon Danis is making headlines again for all the wrong reasons after getting into a brawl cageside at UFC 322.
Danis, who won his first fight in six years at a Misfits show in August, was angling for
trouble in the lead-up to the major UFC pay-per-view at Madison Square Garden. Three days before the event he announced he’d be in attendance and literally challenged anyone who might dare to try him.
“This is my city. I run it. I’ll be at UFC 322,” Danis wrote. “No security, no fear. Send whoever you want, just nobody you want back.”
We’ve heard reports that Danis was expecting to have a slightly less explosive run-in with Jorge Masvidal, but Dillon must have forgot about the large team of Dagestani fighters in the building supporting their teammate Islam Makhachev. “El Jefe” had recently posted more than a few insulting things about Dagestan in general and Islam specifically, including several racist ‘inbred’ memes.
With that in mind, we really shouldn’t be surprised that things kicked off between Danis and several fighters associated with Makhachev just before the PPV portion of UFC 322 started. Watch all the videos here. There’s still no footage of the initial spark, but we do see the middle and end: there’s Danis getting punched numerous times from behind, and Danis losing a shoe as he’s shoved into a barrier.
Involved in the brawl based on video: Khabib Nurmagomedov’s cousin and ex-UFC fighter Abubakar Nurmagomedov, and recent Contender Series signee Magomed “Chanco” Zaynukov, the fighter everyone calls “John Pork.” Some doubts have been raised as to whether it was actually Zaynukov punching Danis but his Instagram includes footage of viral sensation Hasbulla giving him the expensive tan sweater he’s seen wearing as he beats on Danis.
Another post from “Chanco’s” Instagram Story shows him back at the fighter hotel watching Shevchenko vs. Zhang.
“Damn this arena,” the caption on the post read.
As for Danis, he was escorted out of the arena in the arms of a pack of security guards … much to the delight of fans, who threw middle fingers at the controversial fighter.
For more UFC 322: “Della Maddalena vs. Makhachev” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.
