Conor McGregor’s jiu jitsu coach was slapped by Khabib Nurmagomedov’s agent backstage at UFC 268 according to multiple reports.
The man who sparked Kahbib’s furious dive into the crowd after ‘The Eagle’s’ dominant UFC 229 victory over Conor McGregor in 2018, Dillon Danis, reportedly got into an altercation with well known MMA manager Ali Abdulaziz behind the scenes during the Usman v Covington clash at Madison Square Garden on Sunday (AEDT).
According to several eyewitnesses, Danis, a black belt under Brazilian legend Marcelo Garcia, was given an open hand by Abdelaziz before security intervened and escorted him out of the building. MMA Junkie first reported the incident.
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Abdelaziz had three fighters that he represents competing at UFC 268, welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, Justin Gaethje and Frankie Edgar, and was there to support them.
News of the clash was corroborated in a now deleted tweet by former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping who was at MSG for the event. He also said Danis has been banned from attending future UFC fights.
“So pathetic,” Bisping wrote in a response to Danis on Twitter. “FYI people, [Danis] was legit slapped in the face like a bitch backstage and then ejected and banned from all UFC events.”
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Abdelaziz and Danis have never been shy about their feelings for one another and have exchanged pleasantries over social media in the past. They nearly got into a scuffle earlier this year at a Professional Fighter’s League event.
The Bellator fighter hasn’t competed in a sanctioned bout since 2019 and has been in the headlines for the wrong reasons this year. He was arrested and charged after getting choked out by a bouncer outside a New Jersey club.
He was targeted by Khabib after the 2018 fight with McGregor because the UFC legend said he was spewing racist taunts at him during the bout, which was later denied by Danis.
Abdelaziz is no stranger to backstage incidents. The influential agent slapped Anthony Pettis’ manager, Abe Kawa, at a PFL event. There’s also vision of Abdelaziz trying to fight Colby Covington at a Las Vegas hotel buffet.
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