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Tag: KSI

  • KSI and Logan Paul Called Out For Avoiding Real Fights “Boxing is not a real fight”

    KSI and Logan Paul Called Out For Avoiding Real Fights “Boxing is not a real fight”

    KSI and Logan Paul are big figures on the influencer boxing circuit but someone who has history with both men does not highly tout the sweet science overall. That combatant in question is Dillon Danis who prepares for the first ever MMA fight in the history of Misfits Boxing. Danis will take on Warren Spencer for the inaugural MF MMA light heavyweight championship at Misfits Boxing 22 on August 30th from Manchester, England.

    This will transpire this Saturday on this ‘Ring of Thrones’ card that features Luke Rockhold vs. Darren Till for the MFB bridgerweight title and Tony Ferguson vs. Salt Papi for the MFB interim middleweight belt.

    Speaking to Ringside with Abbas, Danis covered several subjects ahead of his return to mixed martial arts after several years away where he pursued gloved boxing in the mean time. Herein lies his ties to Paul and KSI, with Danis fighting the former to an inauspicious disqualification in a bad blood fuelled pre-fight build. For KSI, Danis has been booked to box him on a pair of occasions with Danis withdrawing the first time and KSI pulling out from the sophomore bout booking.

    KSI and Dillon Danis’ attempt to make a deal with him

    Putting Logan Paul and KSI in his proverbial crosshairs before he returns to competing in the four ounce gloves this weekend on DAZN pay-per-view, Danis said,

    “KSI… I made him a deal. He said if I knock him out, so it should be; KSI is the type of guy that if he picks up… Here we go again.”

    “So if I knock him out, he has to fight me in MMA. Well, you don’t get any extra money if you don’t. I went to boxing. And I fought Logan. How come Logan can’t fight MMA? How come you always got to go to their field? It’s not a real fight. Boxing is not a real fight. He thinks it’s a real fight. All this [expletive] is fake. ‘Cause in a real fight; yeah, sweet science of getting taken down and choked out. Ain’t no sweet silence in that.”

  • Conor McGregor vs. KSI ‘Was A Done Deal,’ Says Misfits Boxing’s Mams Taylor

    Conor McGregor vs. KSI ‘Was A Done Deal,’ Says Misfits Boxing’s Mams Taylor

    Conor McGregor was supposedly in advanced negotiations for potential showdowns against top influencer boxers.

    McGregor has remained sidelined since suffering a brutal leg break in his trilogy clash with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 back in July 2021. Despite years of relentless teases and bold declarations about a comeback, the Irishman’s long-awaited return to the Octagon has remained nothing more than talk.

    Back in December, “The Notorious” revealed he was actively plotting a high-profile exhibition bout against Logan Paul in India, aiming for a summer showdown before making his UFC return. But as it turns out, Paul wasn’t the only YouTuber-turned-part-time boxer on McGregor’s radar.

    During a recent episode of Misfits News on YouTube, promoter Mams Taylor revealed that McGregor was on the verge of finalizing a crossover boxing match against KSI. The bout, reportedly orchestrated by Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority Chairman Turki Alalshikh, was set to take place on Alcatraz Island in June.

    However, at the last moment, just before the fight could be officially announced, the former UFC two-division champion reportedly withdrew.

    “The Conor McGregor one, we thought it was a done deal,” Taylor said. “We were told it was a done deal. I don’t know exactly [what happened] because I wasn’t part of the negotiations with Conor, but I think Conor made a statement recently about that and addressed it subtly so just refer back to that. He wants to be a politician and who knows? I think that’s a very exciting fight, I think it’s a wonderful fight, it would be massive. That got KSI more excited than I’ve ever seen him and I’ve seen him go through ups, downs, all kinds of crazy stuff we’ve been through together.”

    Taylor’s assertions seem to be corroborated by a statement made by “The Notorious” last month, where McGregor confessed to turning down an opportunity to fight on Alcatraz. He explained that his focus was instead directed toward his ambitious presidential campaign in Ireland.

    Meanwhile, KSI was initially set to face McGregor’s close friend Dillon Danis in the headline matchup at Misfits Boxing 21 on March 29. However, the British YouTuber withdrew from the fight, citing an alleged illness.

    While the bout was reportedly postponed with hopes of rescheduling, it now seems increasingly unlikely that the fight will ever be rebooked.

  • Darren Till Believes Dillon Danis ‘Said No’ To Fighting Him After KSI Withdrawal

    Darren Till is claiming that Dillon Danis refused to fight him following the fallout of his bout with KSI.

    Till was scheduled to take on Darren Stewart in the co-main event of Misfits Boxing 21 on March 29 at the AO Arena in Manchester, England. The fight card was set to be headlined by a grudge match between KSI and Danis.

    However, last week, the YouTuber-turned-boxer revealed that a three-week struggle with illness had led to the entire event being postponed.

    Disheartened by the event’s postponement, “The Gorilla” voiced his frustration on social media, emphasizing that he was fully prepared for his fight. He even had a chance to salvage the card, but unfortunately, it didn’t come to fruition.

    During a recent interview with iFL TV, Till revealed that he was offered a chance to face Danis in a reworked main event. However, according to the UFC welterweight title challenger, “El Jefe” ultimately declined the fight.

    “Yeah, that was brought up, and I don’t know whether they said something like, they couldn’t do it for some political reasons, or I don’t know if he said no,” Darren Tll said. “I’m pretty certain that he [Danis] said no. I can’t imagine Dillon wanting to fight me in boxing. I tried to fight him, but obviously, that didn’t materialize. So I don’t know why. On my side, obviously, I said yeah, but who knows on their side.

    Darren Till returned to competition after a prolonged absence following his UFC departure, making his boxing debut under the Social Knockouts banner in June 2024. In an unexpected outcome, he claimed a TKO victory over Mohammad Mutie.

    “The Gorilla” later returned to the ring under the Misfits Boxing banner in January, competing in a professional bout where he secured a sixth-round knockout against Anthony Taylor.

    Meanwhile, as Danis awaits the rescheduling of his bout against KSI, he remains booked to compete under the newly launched Global Fight League (GFL). He is set to face former UFC interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson in a bout provisionally set for May.

  • Joe Rogan: It’s ‘Crazy’ KSI Pulled Out Of Fight Against Inexperienced Dillon Danis

    Joe Rogan: It’s ‘Crazy’ KSI Pulled Out Of Fight Against Inexperienced Dillon Danis

    Joe Rogan has reacted after the boxing match between YouTube sensation KSI and Dillon Danis, scheduled for March 29, was abruptly postponed by KSI due to illness.

    This decision impacted the entire event, including a stacked undercard, causing frustration among fighters and fans alike. The matchup pitted KSI, who has boxing experience since 2018, against Danis, a jiu-jitsu black belt with limited boxing exposure.  

    During a JRE Fight Companion broadcast for UFC London, Joe Rogan expressed his bewilderment at KSI’s decision to postpone the fight.

    Rogan, along with Brendan Schaub and Gordon Ryan, Danis’ longtime rival, found it perplexing that KSI, considered the superior boxer, would withdraw due to illness. They felt KSI should have been able to compete, even at a reduced capacity.

    “How does KSI pull out against Dillon Danis? Dillon’s not a boxer. KSI is a pretty good boxer, he’s legit,” Rogan said. “It’s crazy that he would (pull out). You’d think he could not even be at his best and take that fight.”

    Danis responded to the postponement by stating that KSI “pulled out,” not merely postponed the event, highlighting the significant financial and logistical implications of the cancellation. He drew a sharp contrast between postponing a multi-million-dollar fight card and a “little league baseball game.”

    In a further attempt to salvage the event, Danis publicly called upon Logan Paul, KSI’s previous opponent, to step in for a rematch. He expressed sympathy for the other fighters on the card and the fans who had purchased tickets, criticizing KSI’s decision as being based on “the sniffles.” 

  • Dillon Danis Thinks He Knows What Caused KSI Illness That’s Postponed Their Fight

    Dillon Danis Thinks He Knows What Caused KSI Illness That’s Postponed Their Fight

    Dillon Danis is speculating on the cause of KSI’s illness that led to the fight’s postponement.

    Danis and KSI were set to settle their rivalry in a 185-pound grudge match, headlining Misfits Boxing 21 on March 29 at Manchester’s AO Arena. However, on Friday, the influencer boxing promotion announced that “The Nightmare” had fallen ill, forcing the entire event to be postponed. A new date is expected to be revealed next week.

    KSI took to social media to reveal that he has been battling an illness for the past three weeks but remains determined to reschedule the fight.

    “I tried my hardest, but my body has legit just given up,” KSI said. “I’m currently in bed, taking antibiotics, trying to recover, but I’m struggling. I’m coughing up greenish, yellowish sh*t all the time… I tried sparring and training, but my body feels weak. My stamina is just falling off a cliff… I want to move the fight to another day because I still want to knock out Dillon Danis.”

    However, the YouTuber-turned-occasional-boxer’s reasoning failed to convince “El Jefe,” who flooded X with scathing posts ridiculing his would-be opponent for withdrawing. The exchange quickly escalated into a fiery war of words between the two.

    In one of his many posts, Dillon Danis shared a screenshot listing symptoms of anabolic steroid withdrawal, several of which aligned with those KSI mentioned in his video. He implied that the 31-year-old Londoner’s illness could be a result of it.

    The two were initially scheduled to clash in January 2023, but just a week before the showdown, the ever-controversial MMA fighter withdrew without providing a clear reason. Both last stepped into the ring at MF & DAZN: X Series 10 – PRIME Card in October 2023, where Danis fell to Logan Paul, while KSI suffered a loss to Tommy Fury.

  • KSI vs. Dillon Danis Off Again As Illness Scraps Misfits Event 8 Days Out

    KSI vs. Dillon Danis Off Again As Illness Scraps Misfits Event 8 Days Out

    The KSI vs. Dillon Danis matchup has once again failed to make it to the ring.

    Next weekend was set to see the pair’s longtime rivalry finally settled in the main event of Misfits Boxing 21 in Manchester, England. It was to come just over two years on from their first attempt at sharing the squared circle, which collapsed when Danis withdrew citing unpreparedness.

    The bout has once again been postponed, but this time due to an issue on the side of the YouTuber-turned-boxer.

    It emerged on Friday, eight days out from the planned event inside the AO Arena, that an illness to KSI has rendered him unable to compete. The Englishman confirmed the news himself in a video posted to the Misfits Boxing X account.

    With the high-profile main event off, the entire event has also been delayed.

    That means a canceled return for ex-UFC title challenger Darren Till, who was slated to co-headline the March 29 card opposite another former Octagon veteran in Darren Stewart.

    KSI hasn’t boxed since a decision defeat to Tommy Fury in October 2023. Dillon Danis, meanwhile, fell short to Logan Paul on the same night.

    Rebooking the seemingly cursed matchup between the bitter foes could prove tricky, with the American former Bellator fighter expected to make his MMA return to face Tony Ferguson under the Global Fight League banner in either May or June.

  • KSI Warns Tony Ferguson: Danis Fight Will Be ‘Dead’ After Damage From Boxing Match

    KSI Warns Tony Ferguson: Danis Fight Will Be ‘Dead’ After Damage From Boxing Match

    KSI warns that by the time he’s done with Dillon Danis, there won’t be much left of him for Tony Ferguson to fight.

    For context, KSI is set to square off against Danis in a 185-pound grudge match in the main event of Misfits Boxing 21 on March 29 at the AO Arena in Manchester, England.

    However, following his sophomore appearance in the boxing ring, “El Jefe” is booked to compete against former UFC interim lightweight champion Ferguson under the banner of the newly launched MMA promotion, Global Fight League (GFL), with the bout tentatively scheduled for May 11.

    On Tuesday, the YouTuber-turned-influencer boxer, who has a long-standing feud with Danis, took to X to issue a chilling message just two weeks ahead of their showdown. His words weren’t just aimed at Danis as they also carried a veiled shot at Ferguson, with “The Nightmare” vowing to punish Danis so brutally that his anticipated MMA return would become an afterthought.

    “I don’t think people understand what I’m about to do to Danis. His fight with Ferguson will be dead. His UFC dreams will be dead. His career in combat sports will finally be dead,” KSI wrote on X.

    KSI and Danis were originally set to face off in January 2023, but “El Jefe” pulled out just a week before fight night without offering a clear explanation. His last-minute withdrawal only added fuel to their already heated rivalry, as they have traded barbs on social media on several occasions.

    “The Nightmare” was last seen in action in October 2023, headlining the MF & DAZN: X Series 10 – PRIME Card against Tommy Fury, where he suffered a controversial unanimous decision loss.

    Meanwhile, Danis made his boxing debut on the same card, taking on KSI’s former adversary and now collaborator, Logan Paul. But the bout took a wild turn when the outspoken MMA fighter attempted to lock “The Maverick” in a chokehold, resulting in his disqualification in the sixth round.

  • Watch KSI Slap Dillon Danis During Misfits & DAZN X Series 21 Press Conference

    Watch KSI Slap Dillon Danis During Misfits & DAZN X Series 21 Press Conference

    The launch press conference for Misfits & DAZN X Series 21 takes place today, as headliners KSI and Dillon Danis went face to face.

    British YouTube star, rapper, and celebrity boxer KSI and combat sports figure Danis are set for a second attempt at having their feud reach the ring.

    After the American pulled out from their scheduled January 2023 showdown, the former Bellator MMA fighter has now stepped in to replace Wayne Bridge in the main event later this month. The contest will mark his first since a defeat to Logan Paul and comes months out from his MMA return to face Tony Ferguson in the GFL.

    Misfits & DAZN X Series 21 is set for March 29 at the AO Arena in Manchester, England. Below KSI vs. Danis, ex-UFC title challenger Darren Till is set to co-headline against a fellow Octagon veteran in Darren Stewart.

    Out of those four, all but Till appeared at Tuesday’s launch press conference in London. See below for a replay via the official DAZN YouTube channel, followed by the highlights, including one brutal slap.

    Misfits Boxing: KSI vs. Danis Press Conference Video

    Misfits Boxing: KSI vs. Danis Press Conference Highlights

  • KSI vs. Dillon Danis Official For Misfits Boxing 21 On March 29

    KSI vs. Dillon Danis Official For Misfits Boxing 21 On March 29

    KSI and Dillon Danis are finally set to settle their long-standing feud inside the squared circle.

    The two rivals are set to collide in a 185-pound showdown, headlining Misfits Boxing 21. The event, billed as “Unfinished Business,” is scheduled for March 29 at the AO Arena in Manchester, England.

    KSI and Danis were originally scheduled to clash at Misfits Boxing 4 in January 2023, but “El Jefe” pulled out just a week before fight night. At the time, KSI and his team claimed that Danis withdrew due to a lack of proper preparation.

    “The Nightmare” was originally set to square off against former English footballer Wayne Bridge on March 29, but the fight was scrapped after the ex-Chelsea defender pulled out.

    KSI is coming off the first setback of his boxing career—a unanimous decision loss to Tommy Fury in the main event of the MF & DAZN: X Series 10 – PRIME Card in October 2023.

    Danis made his boxing debut on the same card, facing KSI’s former rival-turned-business partner, Logan Paul. However, the bout ended in chaos, as the former Bellator fighter was disqualified in the sixth round after attempting to put Paul in a chokehold.

  • Ariel Helwani Pitches KSI As Next Opponent For Jorge Masvidal After Boxing Loss To Nate Diaz

    Ariel Helwani Pitches KSI As Next Opponent For Jorge Masvidal After Boxing Loss To Nate Diaz

    Ariel Helwani recently floated the idea of online personality KSI (real name Olajide Olayinka Williams Olatunji) as the next potential opponent for Jorge Masvidal following his defeat to Nate Diaz in their boxing match.

    This past Saturday, Masvidal came up short on the judges’ scorecards in a rematch of their Octagon clash from UFC 244 in November 2019. This time, the bout took place in a professional boxing ring, headlining a pay-per-view event at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.

    After a showdown marked by intense, back-and-forth action, two of the three judges awarded the victory to Diaz with scores of 98-92 and 97-93. The third judge, however, saw it as a dead heat, scoring the fight a 95-95 draw.

    Following the loss, the former BMF titleholder contended that he had done enough to secure the victory and claimed that the judges were prejudiced against him. Although Masvidal immediately called for a rematch, Diaz promptly dismissed this request during the post-event press conference.

    “Gamebred” has previously mentioned that he has a three-fight contract with Fanmio, granting him the opportunity to pursue high-profile boxing matches. Considering Masvidal’s recent passion for the sweet science, it seems highly probable that he will seek a swift return to the squared circle.

    While Helwani may not be an official matchmaker, he has an intriguing contender in mind for Masvidal’s comeback fight…

    Helwani Sees KSI As Prime Matchup For Masvidal’s Next Boxing Bout

    During a recent episode of The MMA Hour, Helwani explored potential opponents for Jorge Masvidal’s next boxing match, ultimately suggesting the possibility of pitting YouTuber-turned-boxer KSI against the former two-time UFC welterweight title challenger.

    The Canadian combat sports journalist suggested that a fight with Masvidal would be significantly more intriguing than the scheduled 1 vs. 2 matchup against Slim Albaher and MMA veteran Anthony Taylor.

    “I’ll tell you what, with all due respect, I would much rather see Jorge against KSI than KSI in this, you know, whatever, [1 vs.2],” Helwani said. “Actually, Jorge versus KSI is really interesting to me.”

    Helwani further noted that the bittersweet past between Masvidal and KSI makes this matchup a more logical and compelling choice for both fighters.

    “Remember, that was a thing that kind of happened a year and a half ago on the show, where they suggested it and they were kind of looking into it. I’m pretty sure KSI is on the okay list; you know, like, there’s this list that the UFC gave Jorge that he’s allowed to take fights with X, Y, and Z.”

    Last July, in a conversation with Masvidal, Helwani broached the notion of arranging a boxing match with KSI. However, the 39-year-old Miami native swiftly dismissed any interest in squaring off against the British social media influencer.

    Despite announcing his retirement from MMA after a loss to Gilbert Burns at UFC 287 in April 2023, Masvidal recently disclosed that he is still under contract with the UFC.

    The organization has granted him special permission to pursue boxing opportunities, and Masvidal has hinted at an inevitable return to the Octagon in the future.