UFC president issues permanent ban following mass brawl involving Danis and Islam Makhachev’s team at MSG
UFC president Dana White has imposed a lifetime ban on Dillon Danis after a chaotic brawl erupted at UFC 322 in Madison Square Garden, disrupting what should have been a showcase evening of mixed martial arts.
The altercation reported by Bloody Elbow, which occurred just before the main card commenced, involved Danis and members of lightweight champion Islam Makhachev’s entourage, creating a significant security incident at the prestigious New York venue.
Video footage circulating on social media captured multiple individuals exchanging punches with Danis, who previously trained alongside Conor McGregor. Among those involved was Magomed Zaynukov, known online as ‘John Pork’, who gained internet fame for his distinctive appearance.
Security personnel and police officers ultimately escorted Danis from Madison Square Garden following the confrontation, which overshadowed the competitive action scheduled for the evening.
During his post-event press conference, White addressed the incident directly and accepted personal accountability for allowing the situation to escalate.
“I blame myself for that, actually,” the UFC president acknowledged when questioned about the melee.
White revealed that security staff had alerted him to Danis’s presence before the main card began. They informed him that Danis was moving between different seating areas rather than remaining in his assigned seat, despite holding a valid ticket.
When asked whether they should remove Danis from the venue, White initially declined, reasoning that the fighter had purchased legitimate admission.
Security also warned that Jorge Masvidal had threatened violence against Danis if they encountered each other. However, White noted that Masvidal was seated several rows away and believed the distance would prevent confrontation.
“It never even crossed my mind, as stupid as this sounds, that the entire group supporting Islam was seated in the first five rows,” White explained, referring to Makhachev’s supporters who became involved in the altercation.
White stated that he immediately recognised what was happening when the brawl erupted, despite being positioned on the opposite side of the arena.
Following the incident, security detained Danis and contacted White to determine whether the UFC would pursue criminal charges.
“They called me from downstairs and said, ‘We’ve got him down here, do you want to press charges and have him arrested?’ And I said, ‘No, I don’t want to press charges’. This is the fight business, man,” White stated.
However, White made clear that while he wouldn’t pursue legal action, Danis would face severe consequences for his behaviour.
“You will never see Dillon Danis at a UFC fight ever again,” White declared definitively during the press conference.
The UFC president reiterated his acknowledgment of the situation’s preventability, stating, “I could’ve prevented this tonight, and I messed up.”
The ban comes as Danis attempts to revitalise his combat sports career through alternative promotions. After a six-year absence from competitive MMA, he returned to action at Misfits 22 in August, where he captured the Misfits light heavyweight championship with a submission victory over Warren Spencer in just 15 seconds.
Following that triumph, Danis engaged in a confrontation with Eddie Hall, the former World’s Strongest Man, and proposed a bout on the condition that Hall reduce his weight to 300 pounds.
Danis is currently scheduled to defend his Misfits championship against Anthony Taylor, with whom he previously had a street altercation. Their grudge match is set for December 20 on the undercard of Andrew Tate’s bout against Chase DeMoor.
The incident raises questions about security protocols at major UFC events, particularly regarding known antagonists and potential conflicts between attendees with histories of confrontation.
While UFC events regularly attract fighters, coaches, and affiliated individuals who may have competitive tensions, this situation escalated beyond typical rivalry into physical violence within the spectator area.
White’s willingness to accept responsibility demonstrates the organisation’s recognition that improved procedures may be necessary to prevent similar incidents at future events, especially at high-profile venues like Madison Square Garden.
The lifetime ban represents one of the most severe disciplinary actions the UFC has imposed on an individual not directly contracted to the organisation, signalling the seriousness with which White views the disruption.
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