UFC brawl under investigation in New York, says mayor

New York’s mayor and the UFC’s CEO have different ideas about discipline following a recent brawl.

Dana White said MMA fighter Dillon Danis would be banned from future UFC events for his role in a brawl that erupted in Madison Square Garden on Nov. 15, during UFC 322. Afterward, White 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.”

But New York Mayor Eric Adams indicated he has more extensive plans than White, the UFC’s CEO. The New York Police Department is involved, according to the outgoing mayor.

“These assaults at Madison Square Garden are completely unacceptable,’’ Adams wrote on his personal X account. “The NYPD is already conducting a full investigation, and everyone responsible will be held accountable.’’

Danis, a former teammate of Conor McGregor, was thought to have instigated the brawl that took place near the octagon before the main card started the night of UFC 322.

After the event, White said he was to blame. But Adams suggested the individuals who participated in the brawl will have to take responsibility.

On X, Adams shared video of the brawl that included Danis, who previously competed on the Bellator circuit, and members of Khabib Nurmagomedov’s team, according to MMAJunkie.

ESPN reported that multiple videos showed teammates of UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev also were involved.