Dillon Danis has claimed that an injury derailed a lucrative bout with Jake Paul -- but remains optimistic about a future fight with the YouTuber-turned-boxer.
Paul, 24, engaged in a heated rivalry with Danis on social media and even targeted him in a drive-by water balloon attack during their feud in 2020.
Danis, who is a teammate of UFC superstar Conor McGregor, was linked with a potential fight with Paul.
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A fight between the pair failed to materialise, but the 28-year-old MMA fighter says that Paul is “still calling me out.”
Danis also opened up about the extent of his injury, saying he is unable to turn his leg and is “not allowed to even pivot.”
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Speaking to Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour, he said: “So, I’m allowed to do boxing, I’m saying in a month-and-a-half, two months.
“Right now, I can’t. I’m not allowed to turn my leg, so I can’t even do boxing. I’m not allowed to even pivot, that’s what I’m saying.
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“I don’t think it’s about not being [able to fight him]. I think the fight will happen. He’s still calling me out. I mean, the thing is like, these fights should happen, you know.
“It’s just like Tony Ferguson and Khabib Nurmagomedov. These fights need to happen. And I think that me and him have so much beef.
“It’s not like anything ever happened -- he hasn’t lost. I haven’t lost. I think we should do it.”
Danis, who holds a 2-0 professional MMA record, hasn’t fought since his first-round submission win over Max Humphrey at Bellator 222 in July 2019.
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Paul has extended his professional boxing record to 4-0 and beaten the likes of AnEsonGib, Nate Robinson, Ben Askren and Tyron Woodley inside the squared circle.
The American YouTube star is now expected to face fierce rival Tommy Fury on 18th December in Miami, though an official announcement has not been made.
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Paul has warned Tyson Fury’s younger brother not to make the same mistakes as Danis, who lost out on a ‘$1million’ fight.
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“I have dozens of other fighters calling me out every single week, Tommy. You’re replaceable,” he said in a social media video.
“It’s the same thing that I told Dillon Danis in our DMs.
“I told Dillon there was definitely potential in negotiating up to $1million. And if I have to some of my own purse to get this done, I will.
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“I told Dillon, ‘I personally want to fight you the most but A, if you don’t take it right now, the odds of us fighting in the future are very slim; and B, obviously, this is the biggest fight you will most likely ever see; and C, we have other offers out there, so you need to make an offer in less than 72 hours.’
“Dillon fumbled his bag. He didn’t want to fight. And guess what? I am never gonna fight Dillon Danis ever. He missed the biggest opportunity of his life. He thought I was joking around.
“And now, Dillon Danis is in jail. Tommy, do you want to end up in jail? Take the fight, Tommy.”
Featured Image Credit: PA/InstagramTopics: Dillon Danis, Jake Paul, Boxing