Dillon Danis poses next to Alex Poatán (dir.). Photo: Reproduction/Instagram
There are only a few hours left until one of the most anticipated fights of the year takes place. This Saturday (8) at UFC 313, Alex Poatán defends the light heavyweight belt (up to 93kg) for the fourth time against Magomed Ankalayev, first place in the category ranking. It will be quite a challenge for the Brazilian striker, who faces an opponent specializing in grappling for the first time in the organization.
However, according to a controversial training partner of the champion, it will be incredibly difficult for Ankalaev to hold off Poatan. The infamous former Bellator star and teammate of Conor McGregor, Dillon Danis, has been part of the Brazilian's camp as he prepares for two fights of his own. He first faces Misfits Boxing boss and YouTube star KSI in a boxing match on March 29, before facing the UFC legend Tony Ferguson at GFL in May.
See too
Danis hasn’t competed inside the cage since his second season with Bellator in 2019. But he maintained a rigorous training schedule and at one point was widely recognized as one of the best jiu jitsu practitioners in the world. A video of him and Poatan training a few years ago showed the grappler repeatedly dropping him with takedowns. (see below)
good training ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/X0Gwm01gGh
- Dillon Danis (@dillondanis) July 4, 2023
Against a Dagestani sambo expert like Ankalaev, it is likely to be even more difficult to avoid being taken down. However, Danis says that Poatan's supernatural strength will prevent him from staying pinned to the ground for long, even if he is taken down. In an interview with the American portal 'Bloody Elbow', the friend of Conor McGregor made a prediction of the outcome of the fight in UFC 313 and even gave a message to Ankalaev.
“Alex is a beast, he is one of the strongest people I have ever met in my entire life. He is a person I am happy to train with. I say he wins by knockout in the third or second round. He (Ankalaev) will keep trying to take him down and he will not be able to because Alex is really very, very difficult to take down. Even if you take him down, good luck trying to hold him! I think he runs out of steam and I think Alex finishes him by TKO,” he said.
The first footage of Poatan training with Dillon Danis emerged in 2023, when the New Yorker was preparing to fight his brother. Jake Paul, Logan Paul. At the time, the Brazilian was moving up to light heavyweight, where he has now become one of the greatest of all time in a legendary run.
You need login To comment.