Following his quick victory at Misfits 22, submission specialist Dillon Danis found himself face-to-face with Britain’s former World’s Strongest Man Eddie Hall in an impromptu negotiation.
The confrontation came just moments after Danis demolished Warren Spencer with a guillotine choke in a mere 15 seconds, improving his professional MMA record to 3-0. As the BJJ ace basked in his first victory since 2019, Hall made his way into the ring with a proposition that quickly escalated into heated financial negotiations.
The encounter was captured on video. Both men were engaged in intense discussions about potential purse amounts, with numbers ranging from $100,000 to $400,000 being thrown around before they appeared to reach an agreement. The two men ended up ultimately shaking hands on what appears to be a deal for a future bout.
However, significant obstacles remain before this David versus Goliath matchup can materialize. Hall, who currently weighs around 364 pounds, faces the monumental task of cutting down to the UFC heavyweight limit of 265 pounds.
“He has to make at least the UFC heavyweight limit,” Danis stated during the post-bout press conference. “He has to at least make that, but if he can do it then hell yeah I’d do it. 425lb is what he wanted to fight at, I’m 170lb. At least make the UFC weight.”
The 2017 World’s Strongest Man seems undaunted by the challenge, claiming he’s prepared to drop to a career-low 300 pounds, though even that may not satisfy the weight requirements. “He wanted me to get under 400lb which I am, so I said I’d get under 300 if he shakes my hand there and then which he did,” Hall explained. “So give me 12 weeks to lose 64lb and I will come in and rock his chin.”
For Hall, this potential matchup represents a chance to test his raw power against elite-level technique. Having made his MMA debut earlier this year with a knockout victory over fellow strongman Mariusz Pudzianowski at 334 pounds, the British powerhouse is confident in his ability to end the contest quickly.
“Honestly I just need one good shot on his face and he’ll regret shaking my hand,” Hall declared, though he acknowledged the grappling challenge ahead: “I’m not particularly bothered about the takedown but I’ll be prepared for the full fight.”
The timing of this potential bout could complicate Danis’s larger ambitions. Fresh off his dominant performance, the former Conor McGregor training partner has his sights set firmly on the UFC, specifically calling out welterweight Kevin Holland as an ideal debut opponent.
“The UFC right now is lacking stars,” Danis proclaimed. “I’m the only one you seeing this whole week that will sell this whole thing. It’s not just the game. It’s the whole package. It’s the storyline. It’s the build-up. And in the UFC, that’s lacking. And these guys are boring as hell.”
Despite having only three professional MMA contests to his name, Danis’s confidence remains sky-high. “If they wanna give me a top 15, top 10, number one, I don’t care who it is. I’ll beat them all,” he stated, even mentioning ambitious targets like UFC Middleweight Champion Khamzat Chimaev and former pound-for-pound king Islam Makhachev.
