Eddie Hall and Dillon Danis might just be on a collision course — but before they can go one on one, there’s one major issue: the rules of engagement.
The former World’s Strongest Man and the notorious jiu-jitsu ace squared up at Misfits 22: Ring of Thrones in Manchester, moments after Danis tapped Warren Spencer in just 15 seconds to claim the inaugural Misfits MMA light heavyweight title. Hall, who stormed to victory in his own MMA debut earlier this year by blasting fellow strongman Mariusz Pudzianowski out in 30 seconds, wasted no time in accepting a challenge.
The size difference between the two, however, is staggering. Hall stands 6ft 2in and has previously competed at over 430lbs, while Danis — best known as Conor McGregor’s long-time training partner and for being the current Misfits MMA Light Heavyweight Champion— tipped the scales at just 178lbs for his return. On paper, it looks like a mismatch.
To even the playing field, Danis told Hall he’d need to slim down — and the Brit agreed. Hall confirmed he’d be willing to drop below 300lbs, meaning a crash cut of around 64lbs in just 12 weeks. For context, Hall once weighed around the 200kg mark at his strongman peak, making the commitment extraordinary in itself.
“He wanted me to get under 400lbs. I’m already under 400. So I said, ‘I’ll get under 300 if he shakes hands right now.’ He shook my hand. So give me 12 weeks and I’ll come in and rock his chin,” Hall told Bloody Elbow.
The 2017 World’s Strongest Man insists he’s serious about the cut — and serious about proving a point against the American.
If the fight goes ahead, the ruleset will matter as much as the weight. Danis is a decorated jiu-jitsu specialist, a submission threat from almost anywhere, and his return in Manchester proved he’s still razor-sharp on the mat. Hall, by contrast, brings raw power and knockout intent. His MMA debut showed he can overwhelm an opponent quickly with his hands, but going to the ground against Danis would be a different story.
And, of course, given Hall’s expected weight for the bout, it would be non-title.
Even with more than 100lbs of size advantage, Hall would be walking into Danis’ world if the bout takes place under full MMA rules. That’s why bookmakers would almost certainly lean toward the American, regardless of Hall’s punching power – although, Hall insists his strikes should not be overlooked in an MMA cage.
“[I’m] coming into Dillon’s world, because, as we just saw, you can be the best striker on the planet, but as soon as they get that jiu-jitsu in, it’s game over,” the Stoke-on-Trent native told TalkSPORT. “I know jiu-jitsu – not as good as him – but I’ve got a lot of strength to back it up, and that’s the difference.”
“The main this is, I can hit hard. I’ve got the world’s hardest recorded punch – that’s a fact,” Hall later told Fred Talks Fighting. “Above everything else, I can f***ing hit hard.”
However, it seems that Danis may already be throwing up speedbumps for Hall. “He has to make at least the UFC heavyweight limit,” Danis said post-fight. “425lb is what he wanted to fight at, I’m 170lb. At least make the UFC weight.”
For reference, the heavyweight division caps at 265lb — meaning Hall would need to shed more than 80lb from his debut weight. So, it sounds like Danis could be backpedaling already.
Interestingly, Hall admits he’s something of a Danis fan: “I love his s**t talk. I think it was all the feud with the Paul brothers that made me aware of him. I’m a bit of a fan, but you can be a fan of someone and still want to knock them out.”
That doesn’t mean he’s pulling his punches. “One good hit on his face and he’ll regret shaking my hand,” Hall warned.
For now, the handshake agreement is in place. Danis has a belt around his waist, Hall is promising a drastic weight cut, and Misfits has the recipe for a bizarre but unmissable spectacle. Whether the rules lean toward straight MMA, modified conditions, or a showpiece exhibition, one thing is certain: Hall vs Danis is exactly the kind of fight designed to get people talking.
And if both men follow through, size versus skill could be one of the strangest matchups Misfits has ever staged.
Featured image credit: Instagram/@eddiehallwsm/@misfitsboxing (screenshot)
