Dillon Danis Ejected, Permanently Banned from UFC Events Following Violent Altercation at UFC 322

New York, NY – Dillon Danis, the polarizing jiu-jitsu practitioner and a prominent teammate of former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor, has been permanently banned from attending all future Ultimate Fighting Championship events following his involvement in a disruptive brawl that erupted in the crowd during UFC 322 at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night. The incident, which saw Danis physically engaging with members of former UFC lightweight king Khabib Nurmagomedov’s team, including ex-UFC fighter Abubakar Nurmagomedov, led to his immediate removal from the arena and a stern declaration from UFC CEO Dana White.

The melee, captured on numerous fan cameras and widely circulated across social media platforms, unfolded amidst the high-stakes atmosphere of UFC 322, a major pay-per-view event held in one of the world’s most iconic sports venues. Eyewitness accounts and video footage depicted Danis in a heated confrontation that quickly escalated into a physical altercation involving multiple individuals. Security personnel and officers from the New York Police Department swiftly intervened, eventually bringing the situation under control. Danis was subsequently detained and escorted out of the arena.

Speaking at the post-fight press conference, a visibly frustrated Dana White minced no words regarding Danis’s future relationship with the promotion. "You will never see Dillon Danis at a UFC fight ever again," White asserted definitively. He elaborated, suggesting that the Saturday night incident was merely the latest in a series of transgressions contributing to the decision. "That [incident] and a lot of other reasons [are why we’d never sign him]. You’ll never see him at another fight." The pronouncement underscores a firm stance from the UFC against disruptive behavior, particularly from individuals with a history of controversy connected to the organization’s events.

The underlying tension that fueled the brawl is deeply rooted in the long-standing and often acrimonious rivalry between the camps of Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov. This animosity famously reached a boiling point in October 2018 following Nurmagomedov’s dominant submission victory over McGregor at UFC 229 in Las Vegas. In an unprecedented turn of events, Nurmagomedov leaped over the octagon fence immediately after the win to confront Danis, who was positioned cageside as part of McGregor’s team. That chaotic scene resulted in suspensions and fines for several individuals involved and cemented a bitter feud that has simmered for years, often manifesting through social media taunts and public provocations.

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Dillon Danis, a highly accomplished Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and former grappling champion, has cultivated a public persona often characterized by outspoken rhetoric and a penchant for generating controversy. His association with Conor McGregor, a master of pre-fight psychological warfare, has frequently placed him in the orbit of high-profile feuds. While Danis has a professional mixed martial arts record of 2-0, with both victories coming via submission under the Bellator banner, his career has arguably been more defined by his off-cage antics and his role within McGregor’s inner circle than by his competitive achievements. His presence at UFC events, particularly those featuring fighters from the Nurmagomedov camp, has often been a recipe for potential friction, given the deeply entrenched loyalty and cultural bonds within the Dagestani fighting community.

Interestingly, UFC CEO Dana White admitted that he bore a significant portion of the blame for not anticipating and preventing the incident at UFC 322. He recounted how he was alerted to Danis’s presence shortly before the main card was set to begin. "They came back and told me right before I walked out for the main card that Dillon Danis was here and he was moving around and sitting in fighters’ seats and not sitting in his own seat that he had a ticket," White explained. He further detailed how security inquired if they should remove Danis. "They said, ‘Do you want us to throw him out of here?’ I said, ‘He has a ticket?’ They said, ‘Yeah.’ They told me ‘[Jorge] Masvidal said he’s going to f*ck him up on sight.’ I said, ‘Where’s Masvidal sitting?’ Well he’s six or seven rows away from Masvidal. I said well if the guy has a ticket, let him sit in his seat and let him do what he’s doing and keep an eye on him."

White acknowledged a critical oversight in his assessment of the situation. "It never even crossed my mind as stupid as this could be that the entire Muslim brotherhood was here tonight in the first five rows for Islam [Makhachev]," he stated, referring to the strong contingent of Dagestani and Muslim supporters who often attend events where fighters from Khabib Nurmagomedov’s team, such as current lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, are competing. Makhachev, a close friend and protégé of Khabib, was present at UFC 322, further amplifying the potential for confrontation given the shared history. "As soon as it broke out, I was over on the other side and I go ‘F*ck, I know exactly what that is.’ I knew it." This self-reproach from White highlights the inherent challenges of managing the volatile personalities and deep-seated rivalries within the combat sports world.

Following his removal from Madison Square Garden, Danis was detained by authorities. However, the UFC ultimately chose not to press criminal charges against him or any other individuals involved in the altercation. White clarified the promotion’s position, stating, "They called me from downstairs and they said, ‘We’ve got him down here, do you want to press charges and have him arrested?’ I said no, we don’t want to press charges. This is the fight business. You know how I feel about this shit. I could have prevented this tonight and I messed up." He added, "Not that I’m aware of, no [one was charged]. We’re not pressing charges. I’m not speaking for MSG or anybody else that was involved in this thing. But we, the UFC, are not pressing charges against anybody." As of the latest reports, online records do not indicate Danis being booked into any New York City jail, and messages to the New York Police Department regarding potential independent arrests have not yet been returned.

The incident drew sharp criticism from other fighters, notably from within the Nurmagomedov camp. Islam Makhachev, who was likely the focus of the "Muslim brotherhood" White referred to, commented on Danis’s behavior, saying, "He talked about these guys bad and today the guys just meet him that’s it. He should be banned from this country also." Makhachev’s strong sentiment reflects the deep loyalty and cultural pride within their team, where insults or disrespect towards one member are often perceived as an affront to the entire group. This collective defense mechanism has been a hallmark of the Nurmagomedov camp throughout their rise in the UFC.

The permanent ban on Dillon Danis from all UFC events sends a clear message about the promotion’s zero-tolerance policy for fan and participant misconduct that disrupts live shows. While the UFC often thrives on rivalries and dramatic narratives, incidents that spill out of the octagon and into the crowd pose significant safety risks and detract from the professionalism of the sport. This decision, following a long history of tensions and provocations, effectively closes the chapter on Danis’s physical presence at future UFC events, though his influence, particularly through his association with Conor McGregor, may continue to resonate within the broader combat sports landscape.