Jack Della Maddalena’s family have narrowly avoided being caught up in a massive all-in brawl that broke out inside Madison Square Garden at UFC 322 – and may involve several years of bad blood.
UFC 322: Della Maddalena vs Makhachev | SUN 16 NOV 2PM AEDT | Australia’s own Jack Della Maddalena puts his welterweight title on the line against Pound for Pound great and former lightweight champ Islam Makhachev in a blockbuster night of fights, live from New York City. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
Members of the Australian’s family – including his mum, Sonya, and wife Michelle – were sat front row when a huge stink erupted to their immediate left involving controversial American fighter Dillon Danis and what appeared to be members of Islam Makhachev’s supporter crew.
While it was impossible to determine exactly what happened – or how the fracas started – it appeared as if the Misfits MMA champion was throwing down with members of Team Makhachev, whose man throws down against JDM in the main event.
A barricade right in front of the UFC welterweight champ’s mum was knocked over as warring fighters crashed through it and onto the MSG concrete floor as beers, chairs and petrified fans scattered.
Ex-UFC fighter Abubakar Nurmagomedov was among those involved in the brawl with security dragging him away.
UFC chief business officer Hunter Campbell also rushed from his seat cageside and was instrumental in trying to calm down the ugly situation.
After fighters crashed through a barricade, dozens of security rushed in as the action then spilled over into the media tables where at least one stadium security staffer was clocked.
Danis was also subsequently detained by security and could be heard repeatedly telling them “I didn’t do anything”.
Certainly, Danis is no stranger to drama at UFC events, with Khabib Nurmagomedov having leapt over the cage and gone after him following his famous 2018 submission win over Conor McGregor.
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The infamous incident followed a war of words between the camps with Danis serving as one of McGregor’s primary training partners and grappling coach leading into the fight.
Further footage of the incident showed things appearing to kick off between Danis and UFC fighter Magomed Zaynukov, better known to fans as “John Pork.”
The drama occurred just before Benoit Saint Denis and Beneil Dariush walked out to the cage to kick off the UFC 322 pay-per-view.
