Dana White did not cast blame when asked about a massive brawl that broke out during UFC 322 Saturday night, Nov. 15 at Madison Square Garden in New York.
“I blame myself for that actually,’’ White, UFC’s CEO, told reporters during a post-event news conference.
Before he walked out for the main card, White said, he was told MMA fighter Dillon Danis was in the arena, sitting in fighter seats and not sitting in his own seat. In 2018, Danis was involved in a brawl at UFC 229 after Khabib Nurmagomedov beat Conor McGregor by submission.
Then McGregor’s teammate, Danis was suspended for seven months and fined $7,500 for his role in the incident. He denied allegations that he directed a Muslim slur at Nurmagomedov.
In 2023, Danis boxed Logan Paul and was disqualified in the sixth round when he attempted a takedown and an illegal choke.
But back to Saturday night at Madison Square Garden.
Of Danis, White said: “He had a ticket and they said, ‘Do you want us to throw him out of here?’ ‘
White indicated there was another potential problem: a retired UFC fighter profanely informed people he was going to hurt Danis “on site.’’ Told the fighter was sitting six or seven rows away from Danis, White said he responded, “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.’’
That is, Islam Makhachev, who was fighting in the main event and works with Nurmagomedov, a prime combatant with Danis during the brawl at UFC 229.
Sure enough, a brawl broke out at Madison Square Garden – with Danis serving as instigator.
Said White, “And as soon as it broke out I was over on the other side and I go, ‘(Expletive), I know exactly what that is. I knew it. And yeah, you’ll never see Dillon Danis at a UFC fight ever again.’’