Dillon Danis hasn’t fought since 2019 when he competed for Bellator. Since that time, Danis has managed to become one of the top media stars in the world, but he has become more of a troll than a fighter of late.
The influencer now looks to earn respect when he trades in his phone for a pair of boxing gloves to face Logan Paul at the AO Arena in Manchester on October 14. The fight airs on DAZN PPV beneath KSI vs. Tommy Fury and is part of the KSI-founded MF & DAZN: X Series.
Known for talking trash, Danis’ words have often ranged into the “cringe” category. While he is 2-0 in the cage, he hasn’t backed up his recent trolling. Danis was supposed to fight KSI in a boxing bout at the beginning of 2023, but he backed out due to being “underprepared.” Eyes rolled, but it was almost expected. In fact, Mike Perry has already been announced as the backup for Danis in case he backs out again. Fight fans and athletes don’t take him seriously, including Michael Chandler, who scoffed at the idea of Paul vs. Danis.
“I don’t even know when the last time the dude (Danis) signed his name to a contract and actually went through with the said contract,” Chandler said on his YouTube channel via Essentially Sports. “I don’t even know what he does anymore aside from sit on his phone and tweet things. I think what Logan Paul is doing right now by doing this fight is delegitimizing the Paul brothers brand.”
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Are Chandler’s words cruel, or is there a sense of truth? It is a mix of both, as Danis has not proven himself within the combat sports world. Meanwhile, Paul has competed in boxing bouts, facing Floyd Mayweather in an exhibition, and regularly competing in WWE.
Leading up to the Paul fight, Danis has posted pictures of his fiancé all across social media. That has been the buildup, and as a result of those tasteless tactics, Danis has been hit by a lawsuit.
Will Danis actually show up? Or will he prove everyone right and back out at the last minute?
Danis loves to promote himself and engage with fans while offering them money. How does he have the money if he no longer fights regularly? Being on social media has its perks.
“I’m rich now, buddy,” Danis told Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour via Daily Mail. “I don’t understand why no one understands how I make money when my Instagram account is so popular. I get paid $15k a story, like more than that for a story and tweet.”
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He may have money, but he might actually be serious about fighting this time. He’s confident in his abilities and thinks he can take down some of the top fighters in the UFC. If he is serious about fighting Paul, he must put his money where his mouth is and actually step inside a ring.
Will he step up to the plate when it matters the most?