Dana White is not happy about the brawl that erupted just before the UFC 322 main card got underway.
Madison Square Garden was hosting another stacked card for the promotion’s annual event.
But it was a fight in the stands involving Dillon Danis and members of Islam Makhachev’s team that ended up drawing more attention than anything inside the cage.
The incident, captured on video, featured several people throwing punches at Danis, including ‘John Pork’, whose real name is Magomed Zaynukov. Danis was later escorted out of Madison Square Garden by police.
Dana White gives his view on the UFC 322 brawl
White addressed the incident during his post-fight press conference at UFC 322.
He took responsibility for what happened and followed up by banning Danis from future events.
The UFC boss said: “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.
“They said, ‘Do you want us to throw him out of here?’ And I said, ‘He has a ticket?’ They told me, ‘[Jorge] Masvidal said he’s gonna f— him up on sight.’ I said, ‘Well, where is Masvidal sitting?’ He’s sitting six or seven rows away from Masvidal. I said, ‘If the guy has a ticket let him sit in his seat let him keep doing 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.
“As soon as it broke out, I was over on the other side, and I go, ‘F—! I know exactly what that is.’ I knew it.
“You will never see Dillon Danis at a UFC fight ever again. Yeah, you’ll never see him at another fight.
“They called me from downstairs and said, ‘We’ve got him down here, do you wanna press charges and have him arrested?’ And I said, ‘No, I don’t wanna press charges’. This is the fight business, man.
“I could’ve prevented this tonight, and I messed up.”
What comes next for Dillon Danis?
Dillon Danis made his MMA return after six years away by submitting Warren Spencer in just 15 seconds to claim the Misfits light heavyweight title at Misfits 22 back in August.
After calling out Eddie Hall in the ring – with a catchweight of 300 lbs set by Hall – Danis is scheduled to defend his belt against Anthony Taylor.
The two previously clashed outside of competition and now have a chance to settle things officially in the event headlined by Andrew Tate vs Chase DeMoor on 20 December.
- READ MORE: Dana White picks Hall of Famer with 36-17 record as greatest fighter never to win a UFC title
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