UFC lightweight fighter Kevin Lee says he wants to do a grappling match against Dillon Danis, with the loser putting up all of the prize money.
Dillon Danis is best known for being Conor McGregor’s teammate and training partner at SBG Ireland. He competes in the welterweight division at Bellator MMA and his overall professional MMA record is 2-0.
Danis is also known for his accomplishments in competitive Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ). He is a black belt under Marcelo Garcia and gained fame following his 2014 brown belt run, through his fan-pleasing performances in some of BJJ’s toughest tournaments. Danis was able to showcase his forward moving style, which gained him recognition in the sport.
Kevin Lee and Dillon Danis are both young and outspoken fighters, who’s paths have almost crossed in the past. Danis has previously called Lee out for a grappling match, suggesting that they should both put up $100,000 (£83k) and winner takes it all.
“If what you say is true @MoTownPhenom , then let’s roll on instagram live- we both put up 100k cash winner takes all, only way to win is by submission #easymoney”
Kevin Lee responded to his challenge, telling Danis to name a time and place.
“Say when” Lee said.
That was almost 2 years ago and the grappling match never materialised. Now, Lee wants to finally make it happen this summer. He talked to Ariel Helwani about it during a recent Instagram Live stream:
“When the options run out, he’s the ace in the bag. He’s still been here and still been watching me. I may go and make that happen, that’d be easy money,” Lee said. “I want to get more offensive with my jiu-jitsu as well so I might throw up some leglocks.”
Lee also made it clear that he wants the prize money to come out of their own pocket, rather than sponsors:
“Hopefully he still has the money in the bank, hopefully, he’s still on Conor’s payroll or something, you know Conor’s still being generous with him. I’ve been had mine, mines stashed away,” Kevin Lee continued. “I took that out in cash just for a rainy day, just for when I get bored. We’ll see, this summer it’ll be one. I might do it this summer, once I get bored enough, I might do it.
“I thought it was 100gs, it’s 100gs. I’m motivated by money, that is the only way you get me off this couch. So, it is 100gs and it is 100gs of my money or his. When he approached me with it he said we will have someone sponsor it,” he said. “Like no, it is coming straight from the source. I want his money, I want to spend his money when I go to the store, I don’t want to spend anybody else’s. I want to see his deposit slip and I want to see where he pulled it from. That is the only way I will get up for it. Yeah, I want to spend his money. Like I said we might make that happen, I’ll wait until I get bored enough.”
Kevin Lee is currently ranked No.10 in the UFC lightweight division. He last competed inside the Octagon at UFC Brasilia earlier this month, where he faced Charles Oliveira. Lee lost the fight via submission (guillotine choke) in the 3rd round. The fight was initially scheduled to take place at lightweight, but was moved to a catchweight bout after Lee missed weight.
Meanwhile, Dillon Danis last competed in MMA against Max Humphrey at Bellator 222 in June of 2019. He won the fight via submission (armbar) in the 1st round. Danis does not currently have a fight booked at this time.
This article first appeared on CLOSEDGUARDMEDIA.com on 26th March, 2020.
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