The combat sports world erupted this week as two controversial icons found themselves at the center of a dramatic backstage altercation. The incident occurred during weigh-ins for the upcoming Misfits 22 event, scheduled to take place at Manchester’s AO Arena.
Viral images captured the intensity of the confrontation, showing Dillon Danis appearing to grab Luke Rockhold around the throat while security personnel rushed to intervene.
Images also showed a female security guard with gigantic nails attempting to intervene. According to sources, she was struggling to hold the fighters apart, and many online have speculated that her long acrylics contributed to the massive gash that appeared across Rockhold’s back during the scuffle.
Photographs reveal a significant cut across Rockhold’s back following the heated exchange.
The moment sparked comparisons to Donald Trump’s much-discussed female security detail. A female Secret Service agent previously faced a wave of criticism in the wake of the assassination attempt on Donald Trump.
Tech billionaire Elon Musk even argued she was too small to properly shield the 6-foot-3 president. He wrote on X: “Having a small person as body cover for a large man is like an undersized Speedo at the beach – doesn’t cover the subject.”
It’s one thing to hire women for high-profile security jobs, and another when they appear ill-equipped to physically do the work.
Allegedly, this was the case here, as the scene descended into chaos despite multiple security personnel swarming in. Social media users were quick to criticize the woman and her inability.
Both athletes have now addressed the incident publicly, neither backing down from their positions. Former Bellator competitor Danis delivered a statement on X: “Luke Rockhold learned to never mess with a gangster.” He didn’t stop there, including UFC legend Daniel Cormier. He wrote “DC’s fat a** is next” in response to social media coverage of the altercation.
Rockhold, the 40-year-old former UFC middleweight champion, responded with his own pointed message on X. He wrote: “Ask @dillondanis how his face feels?”
The backdrop to this confrontation stems from Thursday’s press conference buildup, where Danis had attempted to provoke his fellow fighters. However, it was the verbal sparring between Rockhold and his scheduled opponent Darren Till that truly captured attention during the official proceedings.
Till pushed hard to extend their planned six-round bout to eight rounds, creating additional drama during the weigh-ins. After Rockhold suggested his opponent had PED issues, Till fired back with a challenge: “If I’m a cokehead, why won’t you do eight rounds? If I’m a cokehead, why wouldn’t you accept eight rounds and said you’d only fight me over six, let’s make this eight rounds. This fight is now eight rounds or I won’t be fighting. You are not ready, you are not ready.”
Rockhold responded by targeting Till’s career trajectory, stating: “He’s a former title challenger because every time he gets to the top he gets put down.”
Till acknowledged the criticism but maintained his position, replying “That’s fair dos. So let’s do eight rounds, you f***ing muppet. You said you would pull out the fight – you didn’t even want more money – if it was eight rounds. Eight rounds, come on, if you’re man, eight rounds. You’re a s***house, you’re a muppet.”
The Saturday night card promises additional intrigue beyond the main event. Former UFC interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson will compete against influencer Salt Papi, while reality television personalities Joey Essex and Demi Sims are preparing for their boxing debuts.
