Copa Podio have announced that Marcelo Garcia black belt Dillon Danis will enter the upcoming Lightweight Grand Prix, which will go down in January. 

Danis is a highly-regarded competitor with IBJJF (gi and no-gi) and Abu Dhabi Pro world titles at brown belt. He is also a veteran of Metamoris, where he tapped out UFC lightweight fighter Joe Lauzon with a Darce choke. 

"I opted to have five stars from the new generation in this event," says Jeferson Mayca, president of Copa Podio. "I wanted new people to fight with Leandro Lo. I had been thinking about Danis [as a competitor] for a while, and he'll fight in this challenge to try and take Leandro's title."  

The New Jersey native is the third American to throw his hat into the ring, alongside Gracie Barra's Edwin Najmi and American Top Team's AJ Sousa. 

Danis usually competes at middleweight, but with day-before weigh-ins at Copa Podio says he will have no trouble making weight.

The Copa Podio Lightweight Grand Prix goes down January 8, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro. You can watch it LIVE or on replay here by signing up for a FloPRO account.