NYPD Launches UFC 322 Investigation as Mayor Blasts 'Unacceptable' Incident

The New York Police Department has launched an investigation into the brawl at UFC 322 as the city's mayor slammed the 'unacceptable' incident.

Benoit Saint Denis and Beneil Dariush were set to fight on Saturday night when a huge brawl started outside of the octagon at Madison Square Garden.

The dispute included Dillon Danis, the controversial former training partner of Conor McGregor.

Footage from the scene showed Danis fighting members of Khabib Nurmagomedov's entourage.

According to Bloody Elbow, members of Khabib's team, who were there to support Islam Makhachev, threw multiple punches at Danis before security intervened.

After the incident, UFC CEO Dana White confirmed that Danis would be banned from future UFC events.

He said: "So they called me from downstairs and they said, 'We got him down here. Do you want to press charges and have him arrested?'

"And I said, no, we don't want to press charges. It's the fight business, man.''

Although the UFC chose not to pursue criminal charges against Danis or anyone else involved, New York City Mayor Eric Adams stressed that the NYPD will be taking action.

On X, Adams wrote: “These assaults at Madison Square Garden are completely unacceptable.

“The NYPD is already conducting a full investigation, and everyone responsible will be held accountable.’’

The fight unfolded just moments before the main event on the UFC card between Makhachev and Jack Della Maddalena.

Makhachev went on to win in the fifth round to claim the welterweight championship.

Several videos captured on the night showed Makhachev's teammates, including Magomed 'Chanco' Zaynukov and Abubakar Nurmagomedov, throwing punches at Danis during the altercation.

Danis was eventually escorted out by security, while Makhachev's teammates were also removed.

After the brawl, Makhachev said "When you talk about someone for the last five years, when you meet them, you have to answer for what you said."

Danis and Makhachev's camp have a history that dates back to 2018, when Danis worked with McGregor ahead of his match with Khabib.

In the post-fight brawl after Khabib's victory, Nurmagomedov came out of the cage to attack Danis.

As a result, several fines and suspensions were handed out.

Dana White's comments on Dillon Danis in full

He said: "They came back and told me right before I walked out for the main card that Dillon Danis was here, and he was moving around, sitting in fighter seats and not sitting in his own seat that he had a ticket [for].

"They said, 'You want us to throw him out of here?' And I said, 'He has a ticket?' And they said, 'Yeah, [Jorge] Masvidal said he's going to f**k him up on sight'.

"And I said, 'Where's Masvidal sitting?' He said, 'Well, he's six or seven rows away from Masvidal'. I said, 'Well, if the guy has a ticket, let him sit in his seat and let him do what he's doing and keep an eye on him'.

"It never even crossed my mind, as stupid as this could be, that the entire Muslim brotherhood was here tonight in the first five rows for Islam, and as soon as it broke out, I was over on the other side, and I go, 'F**k, I know exactly what that is'. I knew it."