Ariel Helwani Reveals Truth About Dillon Danis Brawl After 'Speaking to People'

Ariel Helwani has spoken out to reveal the truth of the mass brawl involving Dillion Danis during UFC 322.

In the early hours of Sunday morning, the UFC put on one of the most highly-anticipated fight cards of the year inside the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Former lightweight champion Islam Makhachev realised his dream of becoming a two-weight champion with a dominant win over welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena in the main event of the evening.

Before the title fight got underway, MMA fighter and Conor McGregor’s former training partner, Danis, was involved in a heated brawl with several members of Makhachev’s team, with differing reports on what caused the altercation.

But now, respected journalist Helwani has revealed what he has been told about the incident and who was to blame for the fight breaking out.

Shortly after UFC 322 ended, Dana White, the company's president and CEO confirmed that he was aware of what had happened and that Danis would no longer be welcome to attend any future fights.

"You will never see Dillon Danis at a UFC fight ever again," White said.

"That and a lot of other reasons [are why we’d never sign him]. You’ll never see him at another fight."

However, Helwani has claimed that, from what he's been told, Danis didn't actually do anything wrong to incite the attack on the night, and that it was Makhachev’s team that started the brawl.

"After speaking to some people my assessment of the situation is, Dillon didn't do anything on Saturday in that moment to deserve getting his a** whooped." the journalist revealed on The Ariel Helwani show.

"But of course there is years upon years upon years of trolling, Instagram posts, tweets, interview stuff of him talking about them in very disrespectful ways to where you can't be shocked that any of this happened.

"My understanding was he bought a ticket, he was there as a fan, he was hanging out with Alex Pereira...and slowly but surely these people who he has talked about converged and it all popped up."

Ariel Helwani talks Dillon Danis brawl.#HelwaniShow pic.twitter.com/nO95xdy6Ds

— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) November 17, 2025

Throughout Danis' career, the American has made a name for myself by brutally trolling and teasing his opponents and the people close to them on social media.

Given McGregor's fierce rivalry with Khabib Nurmagomedov and, by extension, Makhachev, Danis has also been outspoken against several members of the Russian's team, likely explaining the brawl.

Speaking after the brawl, Makhachev's teammate Magomed ‘Chanco’ Zaynukov – who has recently gone viral under the nickname 'John Pork'– explained what had motivated it in an interview with Red Corner MMA.

“He should’ve got more,” he said. “In terms of what he’s done, it’s not much. That type of thing can’t be forgiven.”

“You have to be responsible for that. That’s our way of life. If you said something, you’ve got to be responsible for your words.”