TLDR
- Dillon Danis was involved in a physical altercation with Islam Makhachev’s team at UFC 322 in Madison Square Garden
- UFC CEO Dana White issued a lifetime ban preventing Danis from attending future UFC events
- The brawl occurred before the main card started and caused a brief disruption to the event
- White took personal responsibility for not removing Danis earlier despite being warned about his presence
- No criminal charges were filed by the UFC against anyone involved in the incident
Dillon Danis has been permanently banned from attending UFC events following a brawl at UFC 322 on Saturday night. The incident took place at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
The altercation involved Danis and members of Islam Makhachev’s team. Security footage showed Danis exchanging blows with Abubakar Nurmagomedov and other members of the group.
The fight broke out in the crowd just before the main card began. Makhachev was scheduled to defend his welterweight title against Jack Della Maddalena that evening.
UFC CEO Dana White confirmed the lifetime ban during the post-fight press conference. “You will never see Dillon Danis at a UFC fight ever again,” White stated.
Dana White says Dillon Danis is BANNED from ever attending any UFC event ðŸ˜
"The entire Muslim Brotherhood was here tonight in the first five rows for Islam… you will NEVER see Dillon Danis at a UFC fight ever again." #UFC322 pic.twitter.com/WLmoKAZoaB
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) November 16, 2025
Danis is a former grappling champion and served as a longtime training partner for Conor McGregor. He was present at McGregor’s 2016 win over Nate Diaz.
White Takes Responsibility
White admitted he should have acted differently when first informed of Danis’s presence. Staff had alerted him that Danis was moving between seats and not staying in his assigned location.
Security asked White if they should remove Danis from the venue. White declined because Danis had purchased a valid ticket for the event.
Staff also warned White that Jorge Masvidal had threatened to confront Danis on sight. White noted that Masvidal was seated six or seven rows away from Danis at the time.
“I blame myself for that actually,” White explained. He said he failed to consider that Makhachev’s entire team was seated in the first five rows.
History of Bad Blood
The tension between Danis and the Nurmagomedov camp goes back to 2018. That year, Khabib Nurmagomedov submitted McGregor at UFC 229 in Las Vegas.
After the fight, Nurmagomedov jumped over the cage to attack Danis. A large brawl broke out involving both teams.
Danis had made several critical comments about Makhachev on social media before UFC 322. Makhachev told reporters that Danis “talked about these guys bad and today the guys just meet him.”
Every video I have seen of Dillon Danis over the last 8 years is him losing fights. I hope this tradition never ends#ufc322
— RGF (@rgfray1) November 16, 2025
No Criminal Charges Filed
Police and security detained Danis after the brawl. He was escorted out of Madison Square Garden.
White said UFC officials decided not to press criminal charges against anyone involved. “This is the fight business,” White said when explaining the decision.
White confirmed he was not aware of any arrests made independent of the UFC’s decision. Online records showed Danis had not been booked into any New York City jail.
Makhachev went on to defeat Della Maddalena by unanimous decision to retain his title. The brawl caused only a brief delay to the evening’s scheduled fights.
