Alex Pereira hopes to one day see Dillon Danis compete inside the Octagon.
This weekend, ‘Poatan’ will have the opportunity to become a two-division UFC champion when he meets former light heavyweight titleholder Jiri Prochazka for the vacant 205-pound crown. Initially earmarked for the UFC 295 co-main event, the contest was promoted to the evening’s headliner after Jon Jones was forced to withdraw from his heavyweight title tilt with Stipe Miocic.
In the weeks leading up to his highly anticipated return, Pereira was spotted training alongside embattled BJJ specialist Dillon Danis. The undefeated mixed martial artist recently made his return to competition, squaring off with social media sensation Logan Paul as part of a Misfits Boxing event in the U.K. Danis enlisted Pereira’s assistance in preparing for the scrap.
Speaking about their relationship during his appearance at Wednesday’s UFC 295 media day, Alex Pereira had nothing, but good things to say about Danis and hopes to see him one day earn a contract with the promotion.
“We did two night sessions, one before the [Jan] Blachowicz fight which was MMA training, and another one for this fight he was having with Logan [Paul],” Pereira said when asked about his experience working with Danis.
“First, we did an MMA session and I could see that he’s a very talented kid. We had two night sessions. He’s a great guy and the fact that he’s actually in negotiations with the UFC, or trying to get in, I think is awesome and I’m rooting for him.”
Alex Pereira is rooting for Dillon Danis to get into the UFC 🤝 #UFC295
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) November 8, 2023
“He’s a very talented kid. We had two [training] sessions. He’s a great guy." pic.twitter.com/SEY1H53258
Has Dana White Already Had Conversations with Dillon Danis?
Danis made two appearances under the Bellator MMA banner, earning back-to-back first-round submissions in 2019. That was the last time he competed for the promotion.
During a Power Slap press event, UFC CEO Dana White was asked about the possibility of signing Danis based on his ability to promote a fight. White was quick to move on from the subject, stating that he had not given it much thought. Fight fans quickly noted that White neither said yes or no in regards to signing the New Jersey native leading many to suspect that negotiations could be ongoing.
Are you interested in seeing Dillon Danis sign with the UFC?
Dillon Danis working with Alex Pereira 👀 pic.twitter.com/GHrO4d48OX
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) September 27, 2023
