The mixed martial arts community finds itself divided over a controversial decision by Sherdog, one of the sport’s most respected databases. They have excluded Dillon Danis’ recent victory from their official Fight Finder records.
Danis captured the first Misfits MMA light heavyweight title with a lightning-fast submission victory over Warren Spencer at Misfits Boxing 22, needing just 15 seconds to secure a guillotine choke that forced his opponent to tap out. The bout took place at Manchester’s AO Arena and marked the polarizing grappler’s return to MMA competition after a five-year hiatus.
However, according to MMA journalist Jay Pettry, Sherdog has made the decision not to include this result in their comprehensive database. Pettry explained the reasoning behind this exclusion on social media, noting that beyond concerns about licensing issues involving the Professional Boxing Association, company officials cited fundamental differences in the ruleset employed for the event.
“The head of the company said their MMA rules were different and focused on ‘nonstop action,'” Pettry reported on social media.
This stance by Sherdog stands in contrast to other major MMA databases, with Tapology choosing to officially recognize the bout and its outcome.
For Danis, the victory represented a significant milestone in his professional career. The jiu-jitsu black belt, known primarily for his association with former UFC champion Conor McGregor as a training partner, demonstrated his grappling prowess by immediately taking the contest to the ground. From the mount position, he smoothly transitioned into the submission hold that ended the contest almost before it began.
The 32-year-old’s path back to competition has been marked by setbacks and controversy. After earning two first-round submission victories under the Bellator banner in 2018 and 2019, his career momentum stalled significantly. A planned return against Tony Ferguson for the now-defunct Global Fight League fell through, as did a scheduled boxing match against British content creator KSI.
Following his dominant performance against Spencer, Danis wasted no time in pursuing future opportunities. English strongman Eddie Hall entered the cage to propose a potential matchup, with Hall offering to cut weight for the encounter.
“I’ll get under 300 pounds for you,” Hall declared, to which Danis responded affirmatively: “Alright, we have a deal.”
Not content with just one potential opponent, Danis also issued challenges to UFC pound-for-pound standout Islam Makhachev and KSI.
