Conor McGregor is backing Dillon Danis to make a statement on his return to combat sports.
Danis, who is a long-time friend and training partner of McGregor’s, makes his fighting comeback at Misfits 22 in Manchester on August 30.
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Danis and McGregor have been friends and training partners for yearsCredit: Dillon Danis – Instagram
He features on a stacked card that also has former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold fighting ex-UFC star Darren Till, while MMA icon Tony Ferguson takes on YouTuber-turned-boxer Salt Papi.
It will be the first time Misfits Boxing, which is owned by social media megastar KSI, showcases an MMA fight, with Danis set to take on Britain’s Warren Spencer for the Misfits MMA light heavyweight title.
The card has attracted a lot of eyes in the combat world and McGregor seems just as interested.
“Now begins the reign over these f***ing Misfits,” McGregor wrote on Instagram following the announcement that Danis would battle Spencer under MMA rules in August.
“Let’s go brother!”
Danis’ friendship with McGregor began at an MMA gym in the latter’s heyday when ‘The Notorious’ was at the peak of his power in the UFC.
He first joined forces with the Irishman in 2016 ahead of McGregor’s rematch with Nate Diaz, and they have remained friends ever since.
McGregor was then involved in Danis’ camp before his boxing debut against WWE superstar Logan Paul.
The 2-0 MMA fighter said McGregor was talking to him every day ahead of the October 2023 bout, which concluded with Danis being disqualified and a massive in-ring brawl after months of bitter back-and-forth trash talk.
KSI suffered a majority decision defeat to Tommy Fury on the same night and was set to meet Danis in March, but the fight was cancelled when the former pulled out due to illness.
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McGregor is backing Danis to come out victorious at Misfits 22Credit: Getty
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Danis fought Paul on the same night KSI lost to Fury, attempting to wrestle his opponent in the boxing matchCredit: Getty
Danis is now set to make his MMA return in August against Spencer, who has gone 3-2 in influencer boxing, fighting the likes of Geordie Shore star Aaron Chalmers and Singaporean influencer NicLmao.
The card is headlined by a huge clash between Till and Rockhold, who is making his boxing debut.
Liverpool’s MMA star Till entered the squared circle for the first time professionally in January, defeating Anthony Taylor at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena.
He has since recorded another victory over fellow ex-UFC fighter Darren Stewart, and Rockhold will arguably be the toughest test of his in-ring career to date.
‘The Gorilla’ headlined the only UFC Liverpool card to date, defeating Stephen Thompson via unanimous decision in May 2018.
The 32-year-old has also shared the octagon with former UFC champion Tyron Woodley and was submitted by current middleweight king Dricus Du Plessis in his last bout in Dana White‘s promotion.
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Former UFC champion Rockhold headlines Misfits 22 in AugustCredit: Getty
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Rockhold takes on Till, who fought in the UFC for seven years between 2015 and 2022Credit: Getty
Rockhold, meanwhile, was crowned the champion at 185 lbs when he knocked out Chris Weidman on the undercard of McGregor vs Jose Aldo at UFC 194 in December 2015.
He lost the belt six months later to British MMA pioneer Michael Bisping and retired after suffering a unanimous decision defeat to Paulo Costa in 2022.
Till vs Rockhold will come after fellow MMA veteran Ferguson enters the boxing world for the first time against Papi.
‘El Cucuy’ won the UFC interim lightweight title in 2017 but finished his MMA career on an eight-fight losing skid.
The 41-year-old battled some of the promotion’s biggest stars, including Justin Gaethje, Charles Oliveira, and Paddy Pimblett.
He takes on Papi, 31, who picked up the biggest win of his boxing career to date last November by stopping King Kenny.
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