Category: MF & DAZN: X Series

Dillon Danis’ coach tells him he’s ‘not a boxer’

Posted on by Zane Simon in Celebrity Boxing, MF & DAZN: X Series, Misfits Boxing Prime Card

Dillon Danis found himself back in the news this week, and for once it was actually for competitive athletic reasons. The longtime Conor McGregor training partner picked up a spot in the co-main event of the latest Misfits Boxing celebrity fight card, taking on noted YouTuber Logan Paul.

The fight was mostly a disaster from a competitive standpoint, but it sounds like Danis walked away with a decent payday, even if it came on the back of a sixth round DQ loss. It was the first combat sport of any kind Danis has competed in since a 2019 submission win over Max Humphrey, back at Bellator 222. Could it be a sign of future things to come for the SBG Ireland fighter?

Dillon Danis’ coach John Kavanagh urges him back to MMA

Not if coach John Kavanagh gets his way it won’t. Following the boxing match—in which Dillon Danis largely stayed shelled up on the back foot (and only landed 16 punches in 6 rounds)—Kavanagh took some time to give his thoughts on Danis’ fighting future. To hear him tell it, whatever Danis decides to do next, it shouldn’t be more boxing.

“I say this with nothing but love for Dillon, he knows I love him: I’d love to see him just put the phone down for a minute, and come back to Dublin,” Kavanagh said in an interview with MMA Junkie. “I’ve been torturing him come over to Dublin. I know he just had a wee baby, and we’re all excited about that. I’d love to see him come to Dublin again and just throw himself into training for mixed martial arts. He’s an MMA fighter, he’s not a boxer.”

He’s not wrong. Nothing about Danis’ performance in the ring suggested a man at all prepared to box, even at a reasonably low level. Then again, if Danis’ recent interview with Piers Morgan is anything to go by, he made a lot more money to be a terrible boxer than he would for being a mediocre MMA talent.

https://bloodyelbow.com/2023/10/18/dillon-danis-adult-entertainment-offer/

Dillon Danis claims 7-figure payday for Paul fight

Dillon Danis appeared on Piers Morgan Uncensored this week, where the noted TV host tried to bait the 30-year-old into signing a giant novelty check over a pre-fight purse bet that Danis had made with Logan Paul. Danis was wary about putting pen to paper, especially since he revealed he’s appealing his DQ loss, but did give Morgan a ballpark figure when asked how much he made for his fight with Paul.

“Over a million,” Danis stated, when asked how big his fight purse was for the Misfits Boxing ‘Prime Card.’

If that seems like a lot of money to pay a man who can’t actually put on a competitive fight, consider that the event apparently sold somewhere in the neighborhood of 1.3M PPV buys. This kind of boxing may not make for great sports, but it’s making for high-interest entertainment. Opportunities to keep making bank likely won’t be going away anytime soon.

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Dillon Danis reveals Misfits payday for Logan Paul DQ

Posted on by Zane Simon in Celebrity Boxing, MF & DAZN: X Series, Misfits Boxing Prime Card

It may have been something of a sporting disaster, but at this point it’s hard to regard Misfits Boxing’s ‘Prime Card’ as anything other than a resounding financial success. Headlined by a bout between Misfits founder and YouTube celebrity KSI, taking on unbeaten Fury boxing scion Tommy Fury and a grudge match between Logan Paul and longtime Conor McGregor training partner Dillon Danis, early reports have the event pegged at 1.3 million PPV buys.

With a price tag of $54.99 in the US (and about half that in the UK), that’s a heck of a lot of moolah. Given their close business relationship, it seems likely that KSI and Paul both got a sizeable chunk of the PPV proceeds, but what about their opponents?

Dillon Danis claims million dollar Misfits payday

When it comes to actually putting in the work, it doesn’t feel like Danis showed up with his best. The former competitive grappler hardly seemed like he’d done any boxing training at all for his fight against Paul, choosing mostly to stay on the back foot with his hands up while his opponent used him for target practice. According to ESPN, Logan Paul landed 108 punches over six rounds, Danis was credited with a measly 16.

Eventually, Danis ended up losing by DQ, after he went for a takedown late in the fight, and then attempted to jump for a guillotine. Despite touching off a brawl after the bout had ended, those antics don’t appear to have hurt his pocketbook, however.

In a recent interview with Piers Morgan Uncensored, the longtime media personality attempted to get Danis to make good on a pre-fight purse bet he’d made with Paul. Even to the point of pulling out a prop check and asking him to fill it in. When asked what the dollar amount for his purse was, Danis responded “Over a million.”

Dillon Danis threatens appeal

Also in his interview with Morgan, Dillon Danis made mention that he might actually be the winner of his fight when all’s said and done. Seems unlikely, considering that he was disqualified rather than losing on the judges scorecards, but a man can dream.

“We’re actually making an appeal, though,” Danis told Morgan during their interview. “So it might be a win for me, because he punched me on the ground. So the appeal—I might be the winner.”

Dillon Danis wasn’t the only one who had a bone to pick with his fight result. KSI has been claiming the judges robbed him of a win over Tommy Fury. While he’s got a much better case by the numbers, but despite initially being declared a majority decision for Fury, judges have since revised their scores to make it a clean sweep for the former Love Island contestant.

As for Danis, if he does end up having to send a chunk of change to Logan Paul, at least there’s always that cam-site that’s offering him $100k for a year’s worth of video content.

You know you can count on us for quick, consistent quality MMA coverage. Bloody Elbow is an independent, reader supported publication. Please subscribe to our newsletter to keep up with our best work and learn how you can support the site. MAKE SURE THIS IS ALL APPLICABLE

Join the new Bloody Elbow

Our Substack is where we feature the work of writers like Zach Arnold, John Nash and Karim Zidan. We’re fighting for the sport, the fighters and the fans. Please help us by subscribing today.

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KSI vs. Tommy Fury scores changed after judging error revealed

Posted on by Zane Simon in Celebrity Boxing, MF & DAZN: X Series, Misfits Boxing Prime Card

Last weekend in combat sports was entirely owned by Misfits Boxing and their ‘Prime Card’ featuring a pair of high profile celebrity bouts. In the co-main event, YouTube sensation Logan Paul took on longtime Conor McGregor training partner Dillon Danis. The fight proved to be a dud, with Danis spending most of the bout shelling up as Paul huffed and puffed his way through the six round contest on his way to a DQ win.

Still, that proved more entertaining than the evening’s main event, where former Love Island cast member and scion to the Fury boxing family Tommy Fury took on Misfits Boxing founder KSI. A YouTube sensation in his own right, KSI has leaned hard into celebrity pugilism since taking a pair of amateur bouts in 2018. This year alone he’s stepped in the ring three times, for bouts against FaZe Temperrr, Joe Fournier, and now Tommy Fury.

All that work hasn’t added much to the king of FIFA reaction videos’ skill set, however. He came into his bout with Fury looking for a few big right hands, and prolonged clinches every time he failed to land. By the end of six rounds, their fight proved more hug than mug. And despite losing a point early on for shots to the back of the head, Fury walked away with a ‘majority decision’. Or did he?

Misfits Boxing Judge reveals Fury/KSI scoring error

KSI has made a lot of noise since the loss, claiming that he was the victim of highway robbery. To back up his claim, the part-time pugilist has a few stats in his favor. In rounds 1, 2, & 5 KSI was actually credited as the busier fighter, out-striking Fury by a total of 26 to 18. In total, KSI is credited with landing 38 total punches to Fury’s 39, and 35 power punches to Fury’s 27. If judges had seen fit even to give KSI three rounds to match Fury’s three, the point deduction to Fury would tip the fight against him.

“That is a robbery, bro,” KSI told reporters after the event. “How many jabs did you land? Look at your face, look at your eyes. I’m the YouTuber, you are the boxer so you have to win?

“He is the man who is supposed to be the pro boxer. He hit me on the back of the head over and over. It is outrageous. I want to appeal. I need to see it again. I felt like I won that.”

So what’s the new verdict? The UK’s Independent reports that judge Rafael Ramos, who initially scored the fight a 57-57 draw, in fact had it 57-56 for Fury. Sorry, KSI, but the fight is now a clean sweep for Tyson Fury’s unbeaten half-brother.

Fake letter claims Association of Boxing Commissions will overturn bout

If this weren’t all confusing enough, shortly after Fury’s victory the internet went to work and started spreading even more controversy. A TikTok video from a user named has.725 marked “Not a KSI Fan BTW” purported to share a letter written by the Association of Boxing Commissions claiming that, following a review of the fight, Fury’s win had been overturned.

After a comprehensive review of the bout, including careful analysis of match footage and evaluation of the judging process, the Association of Boxing Commissions has determined that irregularities occurred during the fight between KSI and Tommy Fury. In light of these findings, and in adherence to our commitment to upholding fairness and integrity within the sport, we have made the decision to overturn the initial result of the match.

Therefore, it is our official ruling that KSI is declared the winner of the bout. We acknowledge KSI’s dedication, skill, and sportsmanship displayed throughout the contest, and extend our heartfelt congratulations to him on his hard-earned victory.

If all that stuff about KSI’s skill and dedication didn’t already mark this as obvious BS, it’s also worth noting that the ABC is an entirely US-based governing body that has nothing to do with the regulation, judging, or licensing of KSI’s fight with Fury in Manchester, England.

It’s unclear at this time if KSI intends to file a formal review. While Fury sounded entirely uninterested in diving back into the waters of celebrity boxing following the victory, he wasn’t quite so quick to shoot the idea down when asked about it in the days following the event.

“Me and my team are going to get round the table in about a month and we’ll decide the best route to take,” Fury responded when asked about re-matching KSI. Given a little time off to enjoy his winnings, it might just be that we’ll see this circus all over again in 2024.

Report: Misfits Boxing ‘Prime Card’ crushes it on PPV

Posted on by Zane Simon in Celebrity Boxing, MF & DAZN: X Series, Misfits Boxing Prime Card

By most standards of professional athletics, the Misfits Boxing: The Prime Card was a complete waste of time and ring space. The undercard was filled with exactly the kind of glorified sparring fans should expect from a bunch of social media celebrities who take a weekend warrior approach to combat sports.

And the main/co-main event? Dillon Danis and KSI both decidedly did not show up to box. For Danis’ part, he spent 6 rounds with his hands up, playing heavybag for an immediately winded and awkward Logan Paul, while KSI hoped that he could 1-punch KO Tommy Fury and held on for dear life every second between those punches. Suffice to say, as a combat sports product, it was a complete trash fire.

Misfits Boxing: KSI vs. Fury card sells reported 1.3M PPVs

As an entertainment product, however, it seems that Misfits Boxing: The Prime Card, was an unmitigated success. Celebrity boxing promoter and social media news source Happy Punch reports that Saturday’s Misfits PPV sold approximately 1.3 million buys.

It’s unclear if that includes any secondary distribution deals, but DAZN had the event pegged at $54.99 for US fans and £19.99 UK pounds sterling ($24.42). Even assuming the bulk of the PPVs came from the UK that would put the event revenue in the neighborhood of $32M, not including ticket sales, advertising deals, and merchandise. That kind of PPV number would match KSI’s previous high seller, his 2018 bout against Logan Paul. Although the revenue here is likely to be much higher since that PPV was broadcast principally on YouTube.

Dillon Danis offered $100k to do BJJ tutorials on cam-site

Shortly after losing to Logan Paul in the Misfits Boxing co-main event, Dillon Danis had a surprise offer come his way. Adult cam-site My.Club is offering the longtime Conor McGregor training partner $100,000 for a year of BJJ tutorials delivered on video for the web service.

“I’d like to formally extend you an offer to serve as the “Head BJ(J) Trainer” for My.Club, a leading platform for adult content creators,” My.Club VP Mike Ford wrote in an email released to several media outlets. “In your role, you will give BJJ tutorials to post to your My.Club profile via photo and video and provide fans with video call sessions teaching them Brazilian Jiu Jitsu basics. People can visit your profile to educate themselves on techniques like pull guard, close guard, scissor guard, full mount, and more.”

Danis just might need the money too. In the days leading up to his Misfits Boxing bout with Paul, the 30-year-old apparently talked his way into a purse bet with his rival. Danis told Paul he wanted to be best man at his wedding if Paul lost to him in the boxing ring, to which Paul replied that he would take that bet, only if Danis put his fight purse on the line as collateral.

Something tells me Logan Paul isn’t gonna see any of that money, unless it comes his way via the lawsuit his fiancee currently has pending against Danis over apparently hacked images Danis has reportedly obtained of the model. If that goes through, then all this gambling may be a moot point.

Logan Paul brings bodyguard Gordon Ryan out for Dillon Danis fight

Posted on by Zane Simon in Celebrity Boxing, MF & DAZN: X Series, Misfits Boxing Prime Card

When’s the last time a boxer ever told his opponent that he wanted a bodyguard to protect him from them? For two men who are about to fight each other, it can’t help but seem like an incredibly strange move.

Nonetheless, after suffering a facial cut in a dust-up during a fight week media event for the Misfits Boxing ‘The Prime Card’ at the hands of Dillon Danis, it seems Logan Paul decided he needed a little extra protection just to make sure he can actually get to the ring okay on Saturday.

Logan Paul reveals Gordon Ryan to protect him from Dillon Danis

The weigh-ins for the Misfits celebrity boxing carnival sideshow event dubbed ‘The Prime Card’ went down today at the Manchester Arena in Manchester, England. There the stage was set for a cruiserweight boxing bout between YouTuber KSI and former Love Island contestant (and actual professional boxer) Tommy Fury. It’s in the co-main, though, that the bulk of the drama has been taking place, with Logan Paul and Dillon Danis once again meeting face to face after weeks of taunting and trash talk.

“I’m feeling beautiful,” Logan Paul told Ariel Helwani, ironically, from underneath a ski mask that entirely covered his face. “Dillon Danis is a coward; he’s a predator and I’m f*cking him up Ariel, I’m f*cking him up tomorrow.

“He’s a dirty-ass fighter. I got all the goons in case he tries anything funny. In fact, I got Dillon Danis’ kryptonite in the building. You know I got the baddest dudes in the world,” Paul continued, as if to concede he wasn’t one of them. “I got Gordon Ryan to protect me in case he tries any jiu-jitsu bullsh*t. This man gonna f*ck you up tomorrow if you try to pull some sh*t.”

Gordon Ryan says he needs Danis to clean his cars

As for why Gordon Ryan says he agreed to come out and be a prop for this ridiculous influencer beef? The multiple-time ADCC champion has had a long running feud with Danis, and it seems this was the perfect opportunity to throw a little more fuel on the fire.

“Really, I’m here just to retrieve Dillon, because I need someone to clean my cars, and he’s the one that usually does it. So I came all the way here just to retrieve him, to bring him back home to Texas.”

Playing moderator for the event, Ariel Helwani made a play to go and talk to Danis and get his feelings on the situation, but Paul intervened.

“Dillon ain’t got no thoughts. He’s f*cking braindead,” Logan Paul shouted, grabbing the mic.

To catch a predator?

The predator comments from Paul are in relation to accusations that Danis was involved in the hacking and distribution of sexually explicit material featuring Paul’s fiancee Nina Agdal. Agdal has since filed a lawsuit against Danis, and received a temporary restraining order against the longtime Conor McGregor training partner. In another staged pre-fight prank, Paul brought out Chris Hansen of ‘To Catch a Predator’ fame to confront Danis over the allegations.

“He needs to be shut up,” Paul stated to the crowd during their Thursday media event. “I get to do it. He’s the coward, in fact. He’s resorted to attacking an innocent bystanding woman for this entire fight buildup. Dillon Danis is a stalker. You’ve got over 600 photos of my fiance on your phone. On your phone you have an entire gallery of a woman you’ve never met before. That’s weird, right? That’s not normal behavior.

“You’re a stalker, you’re a cyber bully. In fact, Dillon, you’re even a predator. You’re a predator, and this Saturday, October 14th, I’m gonna catch you. And, in fact, we brought an expert, because we are gonna catch you. I got my boy Chris Hansen, because this Saturday, October 14th, me and Chris Hansen are going to ‘Catch a Predator.'”

“Dillon Danis, that name sounds very familiar,” Hansen said, as Danis crowed about Hansen’s “tax evasion” charges (Hansen was charged with larceny in 2019 for bounced checks, but those charges were dropped). “I’m gonna need you to take a seat, right over there. Go ahead, take a seat.”

“I have no issue there, brother,” Hansen continued, after Danis told him to “go pay his taxes.” “You’re wrong again. See, this is why—I’ve been through the transcripts. You need to take a seat right there, because I’ve been going through the transcripts and I’ve seen some predatory behavior.”

From there, things quickly devolved, with Danis calling Paul a “pedophile,” and both men returning to trash talking and hyping up their fight.

The Misfits ‘The Prime Card’ goes down this Saturday, October 14th. I’d say it’s going to be a trash fire, but it’s already there.

‘Still undefeated’ – KSI ‘feels good’ after Fournier KO complaint resolved

Posted on by Zane Simon in Boxing, Celebrity Boxing, KSI vs. Joe Fournier | MF & DAZN: X Series: 007, MF & DAZN: X Series

Celebrity pugilist KSI’s time as an unblemished boxer in the realm of fights that don’t count has come to an end. The social media star and hip hop artist first set his sights on a career in the ring back in 2018, for a pair of amateur bouts against fellow YouTuber’s Joe Weller and Logan Paul.

A year later KSI and Paul met again as professionals, with KSI winning that bout by split decision. In the time since, however, it’s been nothing but exhibition contests promoted by his own Misfits Boxing company for the 29-year-old. The latest of which came against celebrity businessman and nightclub owner Joe Fournier.

KSI KOs Fournier with forbidden blow

Taking place at the Wembley Arena in London, KSI looked in complete control in his latest bout against Fournier. He opened their first round with a series of hard right hands, putting his opponent immediately on the back foot and taking command of the ring.

Once the jitters were out, the fight settled into much more of the kind of ugly enhanced sparring session fans would expect from two men whose sporting interests are largely a part time affair. A few jabs, some clinching, and some complaints from Fournier about getting hit behind the head. If he thought he was on the receiving end of illegal blows, though, the worst was yet to come.

Just a minute into the second round KSI landed a heavy overhand right that had Fournier visibly shaken. A short uppercut followup punch, and Fournier was out cold on the canvas. Well, at least it looked like an uppercut in the moment. Turns out it was an elbow.

Fournier made it known immediately that he planned to protest the result. Even KSI suggested that his victory, although “inevitable,” had been tarnished.

“After landing my overhand he was pretty much out on his feet and I went for a short right hook as Joe clinched me and fell into me,” KSI explained in a statement on Twitter. “I landed that hook and my glove made contact but appears to have been followed by unintentional contact with my forearm. I’m gutted that it’s not as clean a win as I wanted and it feels like it diminishes my hard work with my trainers.”

Fournier’s appeal successful, fight now a ‘No Decision’

Even though the bout didn’t have any real stakes, since it was technically an exhibition contest, the Professional Boxing Association (PBA), which licensed the fight, has ruled that the result should be overturned—as requested by Fournier’s appeal.

“Today, Mr Joe Fournier and KSI were advised of a ‘Reviewed Decision’ that was undertaken by Mr Gareth Morris, the referee in charge of the bout,” read a statement from the PBA.

“After a thorough review of the evidence and representations […] Mr Morris came to an independent decision. Even though KSI was winning the fight [and] the blow with the forearm/elbow has been found to be accidental, and [in spite of] the obvious disappointment that will follow, it has been decided that the contest is declared a No Decision in accordance with the rules.

“The PBA has conducted the review properly, fairly and with legal assistance throughout as the bout was sanctioned and regulated under the unified rules of boxing. We have ensured that this process was conducted swiftly and fairly to uphold the integrity of boxing.”

It may have been a carnival-grade contest, with the lowest possible stakes, but the integrity of boxing has been preserved for another day. I suppose now we’ll just have to look forward to the inevitable rematch to finally settle the score.

Then again, maybe not…

In the meantime, if fans are wondering how KSI is taking the loss of his latest victory, he doesn’t seem too broken up about it.