The rivalry between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Dillon Danis is one of the most intense and well-known feuds in the world of mixed martial arts (MMA). Rooted in the animosity between Khabib and Conor McGregor, it has led to multiple altercations and continues to simmer to this day.
The Spark: UFC 229
The main event of UFC 229 between Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov ended with a surreal brawl.
There's some history between those two sides, as many MMA fans will recall.
After Khabib defeated McGregor, he angrily pointed at Danis, who was in the Irishman’s corner, before scaling the fence to physically attack him during one of MMA’s most controversial moments of all time.
Seconds after the fight, Nurmagomedov hurled his mouthpiece towards McGregor’s corner, then proceeded to climb out of the octagon and charged toward McGregor's cornerman Dillon Danis.
Read also: Family Influence on Khabib
That was more than seven years ago, but there's clearly still some bad blood.
Subsequently, a multi-person brawl broke out, which led to Nurmagomedov and McGregor receiving hefty fines and bans from the sport.
The BJJ specialist found himself playing a prominent role when the two rivals met at UFC 229 in October 2018.
As a result of the incident, Nurmagomedov's payment for the fight was withheld by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) pending an investigation into his actions.
Aftermath and Sanctions
On January 29, 2019, the NSAC announced a nine-month suspension for Nurmagomedov and a $500,000 fine.
Read also: The Story of Abubakar Nurmagomedov
The agreement also includes a potential suspension reduction of up to three months if he delivers to the commission a public service announcement on anti-bullying.
McGregor was suspended for six months and given a $50,000 fine.
In separate agreements, Abubakar Nurmagomedov and Tukhugov were each suspended one year for their roles in the melee.
All suspensions are retroactive to the day of the event.
Dillon Danis was suspended seven months and fined $7,500 for his role in the UFC 229 brawl
Read also: Nurmagomedov's Next Chapter
A few days later, Nurmagomedov stated that he would not opt to do the PSA stating "The state of Nevada is where drugs, prostitution and gambling are officially permitted.
Dillon Danis's Perspective
Conor McGregor’s Teammate Dillon Danis has been accused that he provoked the reigning lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov to jump off the octagon and attack him by hurting his religious sentiments with his derogatory remarks, but Danis denies having said anything that would offend the Russian.
According to the Irishman’s coach,“(Danis) actually didn’t say anything. I was standing beside Dillon. I didn’t see what he did but I could hear. He didn’t say anything. When I watched it back I could see him beckon (Nurmagomedov) on. It’s just stupid end of fight stuff. But it didn’t justify that level of response.
He went on to add,“Maybe there was something else in the build up. Dillon is a little bit of trouble online. But, like I said, it wasn’t that big of a deal to me what Khabib did. It just really wasn’t.”
Right now, both UFC 229 star fighters, Khabib and Conor are facing sanctions for an unprofessional behaviour post-fight from Nevada State Athletic Commission.
However, Danis remains clean and hasn’t been handed over any penalty.
In fact, it has been revealed that the jiu-jitsu fighter went to a club after the fight.
Dillon Danis believes his post-fight brawl with Khabib Nurmagomedov is the reason why the UFC won't sign him.
“A hundred percent,” Danis said.
“Because when I go to the UFCs now, they’ll be like, ‘You’re not allowed to go here, you’re not allowed to go here.’ That’s why I get into so many fights because they don’t want to give me security. They don’t want to do this, they don’t want to do that, they don’t want to put me through the back. They treat me differently now because they think I’m going to start some kind of brawl or something. I do start a lot of shit, but obviously, when the UFC says do something or do this I’m not going to disrespect them.”
UFC 322 Incident
UFC 322 turned into a showcase of violence on Saturday. Both inside and outside the Octagon.
One of the biggest crowd brawls in UFC history took place at the start of Saturday's pay-per-view broadcast, and some notable names were right in the middle of it.
Just as the main card pay-per-view was getting started, chaos erupted at the edge of the crowd with dozens of bodies - many of them security personnel - moving around.
It took more than two minutes to restore order.
As Jon Anik, Joe Rogan and Daniel Cormier began their opening commentary and "Baba O'Riley" by The Who played in Madison Square Garden, fists flew between Dillon Danis and members of Team Khabib, including Abubakar Nurmagomedov and Magomed Zaynukov, among others.
As seen in video captured of the scene, some of the main combatants were Dillon Danis and members of Team Khabib, including recently signed UFC fighter Magomed Zaynukov and former UFC fighter Abubakar Nurmagomedov.
It's unclear what exactly started the brawl, but dozens of bodies, including security and police officers, were caught up in the fray.
When asked about the incident at UFC 322's post-fight press conference, UFC CEO Dana White took accountability for putting the two rival parties in dangerously close proximities to one another.
White also declared that Danis was banned from all future UFC events, stating unequivocally: "You will never see Dillon Danis at a UFC fight ever again."
Said White:"I blame myself for that actually. 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 sitting in fighters' seats and not sitting in his own seat that he had. He had a ticket. And they said, 'Do you want us to throw him out of here?' And I said, 'He has a ticket?' And they said, 'Yeah.' And they told me, they said, '[Jorge] Masvidal said he's going to f*** him up on sight.' And I said, 'Well, where's Masvidal sitting?' He said, '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.'
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]. And as soon as it broke out, I was over on the other side and I go, 'F***. I know exactly what that is.' And I knew it.
Ongoing Tension
As a friend of McGregor, Danis naturally has a problem with Khabib and everyone in his team.
Seven years later, the beef still rumbles on between their respective teams.
So, it wasn’t a surprise to see Danis badmouthing Usman after his latest title defense.
You can be sure that Danis will have something to say the next time a member of Khabib’s team is in a high-profile fight as their feud shows no sign of ending in 2025.