The war of words between Eddie Hall and Dillon Danis has taken a blistering turn, as the 2017 World’s Strongest Man has launched a furious verbal assault on the MMA fighter amid mounting speculation over a bizarre yet blockbuster showdown.
In a scathing Instagram post shared with his 5.4 million followers, Hall didn’t hold back: “The World’s Strongest Man against the most talked about name in MMA. The clash the world never believed would happen. The biggest fight in history set to smash every record ever made. Dillon Danis you’re a dirtbag fraud who hides behind hype and when I ragdoll you in front of millions the whole world will see you were never real.”
What’s interesting is that Danis is now a collaborator on the Instagram post, meaning these two may have taken steps behind-the-scenes in making this fight official.
The roots of this feud stretch back to Misfits 22 in Manchester on August 30, where Danis made a lightning-fast return to MMA. After years on the sidelines due to persistent knee injuries and a high-profile boxing clash with Logan Paul, Danis returned with a vengeance.
Facing influencer-turned-boxer Warren Spencer, Danis showcased his elite jiu-jitsu pedigree by securing a submission victory in just 15 seconds. The win moved his professional MMA record to 3-0 and reignited the hype around his polarising career.
But it was what happened after the fight that really set the combat world buzzing.
Moments after Danis’ hand was raised, none other than Eddie Hall entered the cage. Still riding the adrenaline of his own stunning MMA debut in April – where he knocked out former strongman rival Mariusz Pudzianowski in under 30 seconds – Hall made his intentions clear.
The two squared off in a surreal confrontation, with Danis issuing an immediate challenge: “We have a deal. You have to be under 300lb. I’m 170.”
Hall, who had fought at 348lbs in his debut and once weighed over 430lbs, acknowledged the mammoth task ahead of him.
“He wanted me under 400lb, which I am, so I said I’d get under 300 if he shakes my hand there and then, which he did,” Hall told Bloody Elbow. “So give me 12 weeks to lose 64lb and I will come in and rock his f***ing chin… Honestly, I just need one good shot on his face and he’ll regret shaking my hand.”
Hall doubled down in an interview with TalkSPORT: “If he signs that contract – well, we’ve already agreed it – so if he backs out, he’s an absolute f***ing ****, and I’ll never let him live it down.”
“But yeah, just give me 12 weeks, I’ll lose 64 pounds, and I’ll be ready to fight at 299.”
While Hall seemed locked in, Danis added a new twist to the saga, appearing to shift the goalposts once more.
“He has to make at least the UFC heavyweight limit,” Danis told reporters post-fight. “425lb is what he wanted to fight at, I’m 170lb. At least make the UFC weight.”
The UFC heavyweight cap stands at 265lb, meaning Hall would need to shed over 80lbs to make the cut. Whether Danis is laying down fair terms or creating an exit strategy remains unclear.
And it is something that many Instagram users think will happen, with one person commenting: “Danis will pull out.”
A second agreed, writing: “This fight won’t happen, Danis will never fight anyone.”
Despite the drastic weight drop required, Hall has remained steadfast: “[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.”
“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 thing is, I can hit hard. I’ve got the world’s hardest recorded punch – that’s a fact. Above everything else, I can f***ing hit hard,” he told Fred Talks Fighting.
While it’s still unclear whether a contract has officially been signed, the narrative is undeniably compelling: two fighters from wildly different worlds, both larger-than-life in their own right, circling what could be one of combat sports’ most chaotic crossover bouts.
For now, Hall’s message is loud and clear. The weight is dropping. The clock is ticking. And if Danis doesn’t follow through, Hall promises the world won’t let him forget it.
Beast mode, activated.
Featured image credit: Instagram/EddieHallwsm/DillonDanis
