The ongoing feud between Dillon Danis and Jon Jones has been a topic of interest in the MMA community for some time now. Despite their differences, a professional fight between the two has yet to come to fruition. Danis, a 30-year-old mixed martial artist and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner, has a professional MMA record of 2-0 and recently made his boxing debut in October 2023, where he faced defeat. On the other side, 36-year-old Jon Jones is a seasoned fighter with a record of 27 wins, 1 loss, and 1 no contest. He has held the title of UFC light heavyweight champion and is the current UFC heavyweight champion.
The tension between the two fighters was highlighted during a 2021 appearance on the Flagrant 2 podcast. When asked by host Andrew Schulz if there was any fighter in MMA he would avoid due to their superior skills or size, Danis took the opportunity to mock Jones, particularly targeting his legs. He claimed that Jones had been avoiding a fight with him for years and even went as far as to say that Jones had blocked him and Daniel Cormier on Instagram out of fear.
Danis further expressed his confidence in defeating Jones, stating that he would not consider a jiu-jitsu match with him unless the financial incentive was significant, as he believed it would be an easy win. He insisted that Jones was avoiding him, not just in the ring, but on social media as well, suggesting that Jones couldn’t handle his psychological warfare. These comments added fuel to the fire of their rivalry, with Danis labeling Jones as “soft.”
In 2019, during an appearance on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show on ESPN MMA, Danis discussed his strategy for potentially defeating Jones in an MMA match. Despite their weight difference, Danis was confident, citing his experience grappling with much heavier opponents in jiu-jitsu competitions. He suggested that his unique approach and training from a young age would give him an edge, specifically targeting Jones’ legs as a weak point.
Currently, Dillon Danis is coming off a disqualification loss to Logan Paul in a boxing match, while Jon Jones recently secured the UFC heavyweight title with a submission victory over Ciryl Gane in March 2023. Jones is expected to defend his title against Stipe Miocic in a highly anticipated matchup later this year. As both fighters continue their respective careers, the MMA community eagerly awaits any development that could finally bring them together in the octagon.
