It looks like MMA fans might be about to see one of the most surprising fights in recent memory, Tony Ferguson vs Dillon Danis, thanks to the brand new promotion Global Fight League. It’s not a fight that anyone would have predicted, and for several reasons coming from both men’s camps. It became a possibility when both Ferguson and Danis signed to GFL and after the promotion’s inaugural draft, they have found themselves on opposing teams. Ferguson will be representing Los Angeles and Danis will be representing New York, so there’s very little standing in the way of them meeting in the cage in 2025.
At least, that’s something that GFL founder Darren Owens thinks would be popular among fans:
“We can make the fights that people want to see and we’re listening to everybody. Like Tony Ferguson vs Dillon Danis that may be something that will come to fruition. I’m a diehard MMA fan, I love the sport more than anything. I’ve always prided myself on making exciting matchups but also making matchups that people actually want to see. That’s first and foremost what we’re going to do, deliver the real fights people want.”
Ferguson spent the majority of his career fighting in the UFC and after staying at the very top of the lightweight division for a long time, he has spent the last five years searching for a win. He’s lost his last 8 fights in a row, the longest losing streak in UFC history, and at the age of 40 many fans expected him to retire. Instead he chose to sign with GFL after the UFC released him and he will now he will be facing a completely different roster of fighters. He’ll undoubtedly be eager to get back in the win column when he makes his GFL debut, although there are some tough potential opponents waiting for him.
Danis on the other hand is 2-0 in professional MMA but hasn’t had a fight since Bellator 222 in 2019. Since then, Danis has become much more well-known for his antics on social media as opposed to his combat sports appearances. Although he hasn’t had any MMA fights and has chosen not to return to professional grappling, he did make his boxing debut in 2023. He was disqualified in that fight with Logan Paul after a brawl broke out in the ring and that was the last time that anyone saw him compete in combat sports, so this return to MMA was completely unexpected.
Ariel Helwani shared the clip of an interview with Global Fight League founder Darren Owens where he mentions a potential fight between Tony Ferguson and Dillon Danis in a recent post to his official Twitter account:
Could we see Tony Ferguson x Dillon Danis in @MMAGFL? 👀
"We can make the fights that people want to see and we're listening to everybody. Tony Ferguson vs. Dillon Danis… that may be something that will come to fruition.
I've always prided myself on making exciting matchups,… pic.twitter.com/ZG70wmaUIa
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) January 28, 2025
