Dillon Danis seems to have more free dates on his calendar. While usually, it is because of trash talk or promotional theatrics, this time around, the reason is totally different. A brawl at the UFC 322 event at the world’s most famous arena, Madison Square Garden, has its own consequences, one that may have cost Danis his next title defense. So, how much damage did that night really do?

Danis was set to defend his Misfits MMA light heavyweight title on December 20 in Dubai. On paper, it was business as usual: Danis versus Anthony Taylor, another chapter in his unconventional combat sports run. In reality, the echoes of UFC 322 were still ringing. The injuries from that brawl didn’t fade with the headlines. They forced Misfits Boxing to step in and pull the plug.

That confirmation via a report shared on X by @ACDMMA, which cited Misfits Boxing directly, “Dillon Danis has been forced to pull out of his MMA fight scheduled for December 20th due to injuries suffered from the UFC 322 brawl at MSG.”

No theatrics. No spin. Just a blunt outcome tied directly to what happened in New York. Misfits Boxing followed with an official statement that left little room for debate.

“Unfortunately, Dillon Danis will not be competing at ‘The Fight Before Christmas’ event in Dubai on December 20, 2025,” the promotion announced. The reason was just as direct: “Independent physicians have determined that he is not medically cleared to compete at this time due to the melee that occurred at Madison Square Garden last month.”

Behind the scenes, Danis apparently tried to push through. But doctors wouldn’t budge. While no specific injury was disclosed, it was undeniably linked to UFC 322 and this withdrawal.

That link takes us back to November 15 at Madison Square Garden. During UFC 322, Danis, sitting cageside, became the center of a violent scene when members of Islam Makhachev’s entourage jumped him. Video footage showed Danis being punched from behind, with Magomed “Chanco” Zaynukov featured prominently. Then, New York City mayor Eric Adams stepped in.

“These assaults at Madison Square Garden are completely unacceptable,” Adams wrote on X. “The NYPD is already conducting a full investigation, and everyone responsible will be held accountable.” With Adams in office until January 1, 2026, the timing matters. New York doesn’t often let high-profile incidents slide, especially when they happen on one of sports’ biggest stages.

History backs that up. Conor McGregor’s 2018 bus attack led to lengthy legal consequences and a fight to avoid charges that could have kept him out of the U.S. As for Dillon Danis, the fight withdrawal and the looming threat of accountability by the mayor aren’t the only fallout from his altercation.

Dillon Danis finds himself banned from UFC events and dealing with injuries in the aftermath of UFC 322

Dana White didn’t leave room for interpretation after UFC 322. In his view, the scene at Madison Square Garden wasn’t confusing. It was familiar. “I was on the other side [of the Octagon] and go, ‘F**k, I know exactly what this is,’” White said, speaking to ESPN’s Brett Okamoto.

That moment of recognition mattered because it led directly to the UFC CEO’s final call, “You will never see Dillon Danis at a UFC fight ever again.”

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That’s not a suspension, that’s a lifetime ban from attending any UFC event. This mirrors how Dana White has handled repeated disruptions in the past. But was this really just about UFC 322, or was it the final straw?

Well, this wasn’t Dillon Danis’ first time being escorted out of the MSG. He was in a similar situation back in 2021 following a backstage altercation with well-known MMA manager Ali Abdelaziz during UFC 268. Four years later, nothing much has changed.

Despite his antics, Misfits Boxing insists Danis will return in 2026. But even that comeback will arrive under a heavier cloud than before. With New York authorities investigating and the UFC making it clear his presence is no longer welcome, the space for error has narrowed dramatically. Should Danis be banned from Misfits, too? Share your thoughts in the comments below.