Dillon Danis says 'he's making more money than an average UFC Champion'

Dillon Danis is getting ready to compete again.

Danis made his sophomore mixed martial arts (MMA) appearance in the Bellator cage three and a half years ago. Danis remained undefeated as a Welterweight prospect to watch after defeating Max Humphrey via first-round armbar submission, despite fighting twice in 175-pound Catchweight bouts.

Still under Bellator contract, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) black belt is preparing for a boxing ring showdown against YouTube star Olajide "KSI" Olatunji on January 14, 2023. However, he needed permission from his current employer, and it came at a cost.

“I don’t know if I’m allowed to talk about how I had to do that, because Showtime and DAZN are rivals, so I had to pay a hefty fee [to Bellator],” Danis told The MMA Hour. “It’s a lot of money. What I’m paying [Bellator President Scott] Coker to let me fight is more than probably every UFC [fighter makes].

“I’m still with them,” he added. “It would be different if I was with Showtime, because Showtime, they have a deal with them.”

Danis hasn't been afraid to brag or express his self-assurance since breaking into the MMA scene. Danis has been involved in a few fights over the years, most notably while assisting Conor McGregor with BJJ.

Danis claims that despite taking so much time off, he is still in high demand.

“I’m still the most relevant at 2-0, and I’m about to make the biggest bag out of anybody in MMA, active,” Danis said. “I’m not going to say [how much], but it’s way more than anybody. Once it comes out, then you can see. It’ll come out. I’m telling you, I’m making more money than any UFC champion right now.

“I’m 2-0 and I’m about to make more money than any guy in MMA right now,” he continued. “100 percent... Okay, ‘Izzy’ (Israel Adesanya), because he gets the pay-per-view and things like that, it actually might be close to ‘Izzy,’ and Conor’s not fighting right now. I’m telling you. I saw what Paulo [Costa] was supposed to make against [Robert] Whittaker [$70,000 show, $70,000 win], and that’s what I was getting in my first fight for Bellator. That’s nothing. It’s embarrassing. I got more than that in my first fight in Bellator.”

It remains to be seen whether Danis will resume his MMA career. Bellator is still interested, according to the 29-year-old, pending the outcome of the upcoming KSI match.