Dillon Danis failed to make the trip to London for today's launch press conference with KSI, refusing to even join by video link.
Bellator MMA star Danis is in training for his first boxing match, and is based in New York where he lives and trains. And he wasn't willing to make the seven-hour trip to London in the middle of fight camp to promote the event alongside KSI having already travelled to Texas to initially push the event.
However, his no-show wasn't all bad for organisers, after the two head-to-head encounters he and KSI had got physical. Their first one saw Danis throw a punch at his rival before spilling coffee over he and his manager as well as YouTuber personality Wade Plemons, while their in-ring confrontation at the following night's event also spilled over, with Danis being removed from the venue.
Speaking at today's press conference, KSI said: "In terms of Dillon Danis not being here at the moment I think it's quite disappointing, disrespectful to me and everyone who's here expecting him to show up. But it's not something I haven't seen before, same thing happened with Alex Wassabi.
"We were meant to fight and he obviously flaked, I don't know, maybe it's my presence, maybe it's just me in general, I'm such a scary guy. I can understand that I'm very disciplined, very focused and if you look at my resume I don't lose too many times. So, I think for Dillon that's probably seeping in.
"I know he's undefeated himself, but I think looking at me in the eyes even when we saw each other in Texas I could tell it was all a facade. He had to pretend that he's bigger and stronger than he actually is and it kind of shows, him not being here, shows how little he really is, how small his mindset really is. He says I'm not a real fighter but I'm always here, always ready and he is a 'real fighter' but he has not made the plane trip to see me. He's not made even the zoom call to see me, he's terrified, petrified of me."
KSI and Danis have already had a virtual face-to-face as well, hosted by popular Twitch streamer Kai Cennat. There, the pair went back-and-forth verbally, while Cennat struggled to keep the two larger-than-life personalities at bay in a foul-mouthed series of exchanges.
Who do you think wins; KSI or Dillon Danis? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!
Danis hasn't fought since 2019 when he made his second appearance under the Bellator banner, going 2-0 with a first round victory. However, despite his close friendship with legendary striker Conor McGregor, Danis is much better known for his grappling, holding a jiu-jitsu black belt and competing at a high level in BJJ.
He pulled out of his third Bellator fight at the start of 2020 due to an injury, which he struggled with for the best part of two years before deciding to face KSI. He was offered a contract to take on Jake Paul in April 2021, but ultimately couldn't make it due to the injury and Ben Askren took his place instead.
KSI is planning to face Danis before fighting once more around the summer time, with the hopes of finally making a fight with Jake Paul happen at the end of the year. He has guaranteed that within 2023 he will finally settle his lengthy feud with the American, and retire from boxing for good.
