Dillon Danis is now a contracted MMA fighter.
Danis rose to prominence in the MMA community as a training partner of UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor. The BJJ black belt first started working with 'The Notorious' when he was featherweight champion ahead of his first fight with Nate Diaz at UFC 196.
The 23-year-old has yet to have a professional MMA fight, but he had been in talks with several promotions about making his debut for the last number of months. Danis appeared to be angling for the UFC to sign him after calling out Sage Northcutt and Nate Diaz, but it was the promotion's main rivals Bellator MMA who have snapped him up.
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The news was first reported by
Yahoo! Sports, and Danis told the outlet of his aspirations in the sport with the same brand of confidence that you'll find from his superstar training partner. While he appreciates the McGregor comparisons, he has vowed to follow his own route in this next chapter of his career.
"I want to fight the best, just like Conor does. We’re different people, though we’re very like-minded. We set high goals and we aren’t afraid to try to achieve. I feel he’s the best ever, in my opinion, and so if people want to compare us, well, how could it be bad if you’re a basketball player to be compared to Michael Jordan? That’s essentially what people would be saying if they compare us."
“I obviously respect what he has accomplished and will accomplish in the future. He’s incredible and the aura of confidence he has is amazing. He’s a champion for a reason. But I want to go down my own path and do it my way.”
Danis will begin his professional career as a welterweight, but hopes to eventually fight at 155 lbs as well. He also hopes to one day follow in McGregor's footsteps and become a two-weight world champion.
