Real American FreestyleDillon Danis
Cruiserweight · RAF · BJJ · Bellator
Overview
Dillon Danis is a genuine Marcelo Garcia black belt with one of the thinnest competitive records in combat sports, and he has now brought both of those facts to freestyle wrestling.
He is 0-2 in RAF. Colby Covington beat him 14-4 at RAF 07, and Khamzat Chimaev ended their RAF 10 main event inside a minute, after which Danis kicked out at him and both camps stormed the mat.
The grappling credentials are real and worth stating plainly: black belt from Marcelo Garcia in April 2015, an IBJJF Pan No-Gi title at black belt in 2016, and a 0-0 draw with Gordon Ryan at ADCC 2017 that went against him on a referee decision.
He faces Arman Tsarukyan at RAF 14 in Las Vegas on October 3, which puts him across from the man Covington beat for the Crossover Championship.
His professional MMA record is two fights, both first round submissions in Bellator, seven years apart from anything else. A 2025 Misfits win over Warren Spencer is logged by Sherdog as an exhibition and by Wikipedia inside the record, which is why you will see both 2-0 and 3-0 published.
RAF Record
0-2 across 2 completed matches, every one linked to its full card. A tech fall means a ten point lead ended it early, freestyle wrestling’s version of a squash.
| Date | Event | Opponent | Result | Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 3, 2026 | RAF 14 Announced | Arman Tsarukyan | – | Middleweight Crossover Championship |
| Jun 13, 2026 | RAF 10 Brawl after the bell | Khamzat Chimaev | L | fall 0:41 |
| Mar 28, 2026 | RAF 07 RAF debut | Colby Covington | L | tech fall 4-14 |
2 matches on record, 1 announced
Background
The grappling is the credential. His lineage runs Maeda to Carlos Gracie to Helio Gracie to Rolls Gracie to Romero Cavalcanti to Fabio Gurgel to Marcelo Garcia, who promoted him to black belt on April 13, 2015. At black belt he won the IBJJF Pan No-Gi in 2016 plus New York Spring and Boca Raton Opens. At ADCC 2017 he drew Gordon Ryan 0-0 in the first round and lost on referee decision, then submitted Yukiyasu Ozawa in the absolute.
Rivalries
Khamzat Chimaev
Chimaev finished it in 41 seconds. Danis kicked out at him afterward, Chimaev kicked back, and both camps flooded the mat in RAF's second major brawl. RAF declined to ban him.
Colby Covington
Danis out-attempted him on takedowns four to two and still lost 14-4, the pattern of his RAF run so far.
Logan Paul
Lost by disqualification in round six for attempting a guillotine and then punching security as the ring filled.
FAQ
Is Dillon Danis actually a good grappler?
Yes. He is a legitimate Marcelo Garcia black belt with an IBJJF Pan No-Gi title, and he drew Gordon Ryan at ADCC 2017.
What is his RAF record?
0-2, losing to Colby Covington at RAF 07 and Khamzat Chimaev at RAF 10.
How many professional MMA fights has he had?
Two sanctioned bouts, both first round submissions in Bellator. A 2025 Misfits win is logged as an exhibition by Sherdog.
Is he banned from the UFC?
Yes. Dana White said in November 2025 that Danis would never attend a UFC event again after a cageside brawl at UFC 322.