Team Islam Makhachev waited for this day for years.
Dillon Danis, a part of Team Conor McGregor since 2016, has been on social media relentlessly making jokes about Makhachev’s team — and that carried over to Madison Square Garden at UFC 322 on Saturday, when a massive brawl broke out on the floor.
Javier Mendez, coach of Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov, said on Submission Radio that the most recent barb that sent them over the edge was an AI video featuring Makhachev kissing his agent, Ali Abdelaziz.
“They showed me the videos of what he was [posting]. They showed me the videos of Ali and Islam in a relationship-type embrace. And then a porn star and Islam embracing.” Mendez said.
“What do you expect when you do that?”
Mendez added that Danis’ jokes and AI0doctored content weren’t just for laughs and were highly offensive to their Muslim faith.
Danis had also posted a photo of Makhachev with former porn star Mia Khalifa, which could be considered a jab at his religion as well.
After the UFC 322 brawl, where Danis was attacked by upwards of 10 members of Makhachev’s team, including UFC newcomer Magomed “Chanko” Zaynukov, the lighting rod was brought to the holding cells underneath MSG.
UFC President Dana White was approached about pressing charges against Danis, which he rejected, but he did ban Danis from events for life.
“Dillon Danis will never be at a UFC event ever again,” said White said, who added that he had heard was moving around the arena too much during the beginning of the card.
Mendez has coached Makhachev and Nurmagomedov for nearly all of their careers, with Makhachev winning the main event of UFC 322 by unanimous decision to claim the welterweight title over Jack Della Maddalena.
When White heard that Danis was moving around quite a bit, White told security to tell Danis to stay in his seat, but the fight was bound to happen one way or another, with Makhachev’s team having a massive presence.
“It never even crossed my mind, as stupid as that could be, that the entire Muslim brotherhood was here tonight in the first five rows for Islam [Makhachev]. As soon as it broke out, I was over to the side and I said, ‘F–k, I know exactly what that is,’” White said.
Danis got himself into some hot water with AI-generated content before, when he allegedly posted explicit content of Logan Paul’s wife, Nina Agdal, who is now suing Danis in court.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
