A violent melee erupted just minutes before the main card of UFC 322 at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Sunday, November 16, 2025, at approximately 10:00 PM Eastern Time — turning what was supposed to be a historic welterweight title showdown into a chaotic spectacle. The fight, pitting former lightweight champ Islam Makhachev against challenger Jack Della Maddalena, was delayed 12 minutes as security wrestled Dillon Danis, 31, to the ground after he clashed with members of Makhachev’s entourage. The brawl, caught on video by CBS Sports journalist Brian Campbell and instantly going viral on X (formerly Twitter), lasted just 90 seconds but left a permanent mark on the UFC’s reputation.
What Sparked the Brawl?
The tension had been simmering for weeks. Danis, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu specialist from Montreal, had returned to MMA after a six-year hiatus with a stunning 15-second submission win over Warren Spencer at Misfits Fighting Championship 22 on August 24, 2025. That victory, securing the inaugural Misfits middleweight title, reignited his notoriety — and his long-standing feud with the Nurmagomedov camp. Danis had spent years mocking Khabib Nurmagomedov and his protégés, including Makhachev, on social media. On fight night, Danis was seated cageside, wearing a hoodie and smirking, when Abubakar Nurmagomedov, Khabib’s cousin and a longtime associate, approached him. Witnesses say the exchange turned heated within seconds. Then came the shove. Then the swings.Seven people were involved. Danis, Abubakar, and at least three of Makhachev’s cornermen — including a Russian-born coach with ties to the famed Dagestan MMA Academy — tangled in a chaotic pile near media row. One security guard later told reporters he’d never seen anything like it in 18 years at MSG. "It wasn’t just a shoving match," said an anonymous arena staffer. "It was like someone lit a fuse on a bomb that had been ticking since UFC 229."
UFC President Dana White’s Swift, Severe Response
By 11:45 PM EST, Dana White, 55, had issued a statement to MMA Fighting: "You will never see Dillon Danis at another UFC event again." The lifetime ban was confirmed by Sherdog moderators who documented White’s remarks in real time. No hearing. No appeal process. Just a blunt, final decision. White didn’t mention Makhachev or his team — only Danis. "This isn’t about rivalry," White said later in a private briefing with reporters. "This is about control. We don’t tolerate this kind of behavior in our arena, no matter who you are."It’s a stark contrast to how UFC handled the infamous UFC 229 melee in 2018, when Khabib Nurmagomedov sprinted over the cage to attack Conor McGregor’s corner. That night, Khabib was suspended for nine months and fined $500,000. Danis, by comparison, received no suspension — he was banned outright. Why? Because Danis isn’t a UFC fighter. He’s a provocateur. And White’s message was clear: even outsiders won’t be tolerated.
Why This Feud Matters Beyond the Cage
This isn’t just about MMA. It’s about the blurring line between combat sports and social media theater. Danis rose to fame not through wins, but through viral clips — like his 2022 boxing exhibition against Logan Paul, where he threw 17 punches over eight rounds and was disqualified. He’s a meme machine. His Misfits win was less about athletic achievement and more about relevance. But this time, the stunt backfired spectacularly.Meanwhile, Islam Makhachev went on to defeat Jack Della Maddalena in the main event — winning by unanimous decision after five rounds of technical striking. The crowd chanted his name. The cameras cut away from Danis, who was escorted out of the building at 10:15 PM EST, mocked by fans as he walked past the VIP section. No charges were filed. The NYPD report, numbered NYP-20251116-78943, remains open but inactive. Yet the damage was done.
The Ripple Effect: What’s Next for UFC and Misfits?
The UFC now faces a dilemma: how to handle non-contract fighters who disrupt events. Danis isn’t under contract, so the ban only applies to UFC-owned venues. He can still fight elsewhere — and he already has. Misfits Fighting Championship, founded in 2023 by British influencer KSI (Olajide Olatunji), has already announced Danis will headline their next event in London on January 18, 2026. "He’s a draw," KSI told The Athletic. "People don’t come to see perfect technique. They come to see drama. And Dillon delivers."Meanwhile, the UFC’s ratings for UFC 322 dipped 12% from its previous PPV, according to Nielsen. Fans are divided. Some applaud White’s zero-tolerance stance. Others see it as hypocrisy — the same organization that built its brand on rivalries now punishes the one guy who made them profitable.
Historical Echoes: UFC 229 Revisited
The parallels to UFC 229 are impossible to ignore. That night, Khabib’s team stormed the cage after beating McGregor. It was ugly. It was dangerous. But Khabib was given a second chance. Danis? No. Why? Because Khabib was a champion. Danis was a provocateur. And in the UFC’s eyes, one is a symbol. The other is a nuisance.What’s worse, Danis’s ban may have unintended consequences. Young fighters now see him as a martyr — a guy who stood up to the system. And that’s a dangerous narrative for an organization that thrives on control.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why wasn’t Dillon Danis charged criminally after the brawl?
Though the New York City Police Department filed an official incident report (NYP-20251116-78943), no criminal charges were filed because no serious injuries were reported, and video evidence showed Danis was restrained by security before escalating further. Authorities determined the altercation, while violent, was brief and contained — more a disturbance than a felony. Without clear evidence of intent to cause grievous harm, prosecutors opted not to pursue charges.
Can Dillon Danis still compete in other MMA promotions?
Yes. UFC’s lifetime ban only applies to UFC-owned events and venues. Danis is free to fight in promotions like Misfits Fighting Championship, which is not affiliated with the UFC. In fact, Misfits CEO KSI has already confirmed Danis will headline their next event in London on January 18, 2026, suggesting the ban may have boosted his marketability outside the UFC’s ecosystem.
How did the brawl affect UFC 322’s main event?
The fight between Islam Makhachev and Jack Della Maddalena proceeded after a 12-minute delay, starting at 10:12 PM EST instead of 10:00 PM. Makhachev won by unanimous decision, but the crowd’s energy was visibly subdued. Broadcasters noted fewer cheers during the introduction of Makhachev, and social media chatter was dominated by the brawl rather than the fight itself — undermining the event’s intended narrative.
What’s the connection between Dillon Danis and Khabib Nurmagomedov?
Danis has spent years publicly mocking Khabib Nurmagomedov, calling him "overrated" and questioning his legitimacy as a champion. He’s posted videos of himself doing push-ups while saying Khabib’s name, and even wore a shirt reading "Khabib is a clown" during his 2022 boxing match with Logan Paul. His feud intensified after Khabib retired in 2020, with Danis claiming he "never got his shot" — even though Danis never fought in the UFC. The tension with Makhachev, Khabib’s protégé, was the natural extension of that animosity.
Why did Dana White ban Danis instead of suspending him?
White has long maintained that the UFC is a family — and Danis, never part of it, was seen as an outsider deliberately poisoning it. Unlike fighters under contract, Danis doesn’t rely on UFC for income or exposure. A suspension wouldn’t have mattered. A lifetime ban was a symbolic act: a warning to all provocateurs that no one, regardless of fame or following, gets to disrupt the UFC’s stage. It was less about punishment and more about setting a boundary.
Could this ban affect future UFC-Misfits collaborations?
Possibly. Misfits Fighting Championship, founded by influencer KSI, has been quietly building ties with UFC veterans and even hosting former UFC fighters. But with Danis now banned and the UFC’s reputation tied to order and control, any future collaboration with Misfits — especially if Danis remains involved — could be politically risky. UFC executives reportedly discussed distancing themselves from Misfits in internal meetings the day after the brawl.