MMA fighter and jiu-jitsu wizard Dillon Danis has established himself as one of the most polarizing personalities in combat sports. With his brazen trash talk, confrontational antics, and association with Conor McGregor, Danis has become both a huge draw and controversial figure.
But behind the brash persona lies an undeniable talent – a 4-time jiu-jitsu world champion with some of the slickest submission skills in the game today. In this in-depth profile, we‘ll take a closer look at Danis‘ bio stats, training background, and the unique traits that have made him a superstar-in-the-making.
Who is Dillon Danis?
Born in New Jersey in 1993, Dillon Danis is currently 29 years old. He grew up in a middle-class neighborhood and took up martial arts training from a young age as an outlet for his energy. Danis started training under coach Jamie Cruz, earning his purple belt before moving to Renzo Gracie‘s academy in New York City.
There, Danis came under the tutelage of elite grappling coach Marcelo Garcia, earning his brown belt in just two years. Marcelo spoke glowingly of Danis‘ potential, saying "the kid absorbed jiu-jitsu like a sponge". Under Marcelo‘s guidance, Danis won 4 IBJJF jiu-jitsu world titles and a bronze medal at ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship during his brown and black belt career.
Danis‘ high-level grappling skills and brash attitude quickly earned him attention. In 2016, he was invited to train at SBG Ireland by John Kavanagh alongside UFC mega star Conor McGregor. The pairing proved fortuitous, with Danis assisting McGregor‘s training for his 2017 crossover boxing match against Floyd Mayweather.
Danis (right) helped train teammate Conor McGregor for his boxing match against Floyd Mayweather. (Image: Irish Mirror)
Danis‘ profile skyrocketed after he was involved in the infamous UFC 229 brawl between McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov. He has since embraced his bad boy image, engaging in trash talk battles with Jake Paul, KSI, and others while accruing over 1 million Instagram followers.
But just how big is the larger-than-life Dillon Danis? Let‘s take a look at his key stats.
Dillon Danis Height and Weight
According to his Bellator MMA profile, Danis stands at 6‘1" (185 cm) tall, with a reach of 75 inches.
His regular walking weight is approximately 170 lbs (77 kg). However, Danis has the ability to cut down to the welterweight limit of 170 lbs when needed for fights.
For comparison, this is a fairly average height and weight for a welterweight fighter. UFC stars like Jorge Masvidal and Gilbert Burns stand at a similar height.
At 29 years of age, Danis is in his athletic prime with room to bulk up his frame with more muscle as he matures. He uses his long limbs effectively for both striking and submissions.
Dillon Danis‘ Grappling and MMA Career So Far
Despite his bad boy image, Dillon Danis has legitimate skills on the mats. His grappling resume includes:
- 4x IBJJF World Champion (at brown and black belt)
- 3rd at 2015 ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship
- 7x Grappling Industries Champion
- EBI Welterweight Champion
- Numerous superfights won in jiu-jitsu and submission-only events
Danis earned his black belt in just 5 years training under Marcelo Garcia, a phenomenally quick turnaround time. His creative leg lock game, seamless takedowns, and ability to adapt his jiu-jitsu to MMA has impressed.
In MMA, Danis debuted in 2018 under the Bellator banner, securing slick submission wins in his first two fights over Kyle Walker and Max Humphrey.
"My jiu-jitsu style is very aggressive. As soon as I grab you, I go for the kill right away." – Dillon Danis
Unfortunately, injuries have limited Danis to just two MMA bouts so far. He has been plagued by knee issues that required surgery in 2022.
Once healthy, Danis will look to return to Bellator and showcase more of his much-hyped skills. Given his grappling proficiency and ties to McGregor, Danis has the potential to become a major MMA star if he can put together a solid winning streak.
Final Thoughts
Dillon Danis is an undeniable force both on the mats and in combat sports social media. His larger-than-life persona has made him a huge crossover name despite just 2 MMA fights. Standing at 6‘1" tall and weighing around 170 lbs, Danis possesses the physical tools along with next-level jiu-jitsu to succeed in MMA.
Once he returns from injury layoffs, expect Danis to resume ruffling feathers across both MMA and grappling circles while showcasing the creative submission skills that made him a jiu-jitsu prodigy. Regardless of whether you love or hate him, "El Jefe" is must-see entertainment.
