Josh Hokit and Ciryl Gane will fight for the UFC heavyweight title at Madison Square Garden in New York on Saturday, and you never know what might happen outside of the octagon.
A year ago, during UFC 322 at Madison Square Garden, MMA fighter Dillon Danis helped incite a wild brawl.
“These assaults at Madison Square Garden are completely unacceptable," former New York mayor Eric Adams wrote on X. About a week after the incident, it was announced "the NYPD is already conducting a full investigation, and everyone responsible will be held accountable."
But a year later, there have been no arrests and the investigation is ongoing, the New York Police Department said in a statement provided to USA TODAY.
By contrast, there was the brawl that took place
Wednesday, about 7,000 miles away in Abu Dhabi.
Former UFC bantamweight champion Merab Davlishvili was attacked in the lobby of a hotel by MMA fighter Usman Nurmagomedov and several other men in what escalated into a brawl.
Just two days later, Nurmagomedov and six members of his team weresentenced to six months in prison.
Fled on foot
As for the brawl at Madison Square Garden a year ago, police officers apparently got a late alert more than an hour after it started, according to the NYPD.
“Officers were informed by a 32-year-old male victim that three unidentified individuals did punch him on the face and body," according to the NYPD. “The three unidentified individuals fled on foot to parts unknown. The victim sustained minor injuries as a result of this incident."
The name of the victim was not provided. But at the time, Danis was 32 and he told media outlets he was punched several times.
The UFC identified Danis as the instigator and banned him from all UFC events.
The New York State Athletic Commission said neither Danis nor the other individuals involved in the assault were licensed by the NYSAC at the time of the incident.
“The Commission cooperated fully with the New York City Police Department in connection with its investigation of the incident," the NYSAC said in a statement provided to USA TODAY. “The Commission remains committed to ensuring the safety and integrity of professional combative sporting events held in New York State."
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: A reminder of what can erupt outside the octagon as UFC 334 nears
