2017 ADCC World ChampionshipsSep 26, 2017 by Hywel Teague
Dillon Danis' Biggest Problem, As We Saw At ADCC
Dillon Danis' Biggest Problem, As We Saw At ADCC
Possibly the most polarizing figure in jiu-jitsu, Dillon Danis divides opinion like few others.
Possibly the most polarizing figure in jiu-jitsu, Dillon Danis divides opinion like few others.
Danis has faced heavy criticism for everything from his friendship with Conor McGregor to his fashion sense and from his recent exit from the Marcelo Garcia Academy to his style of posting on social media.
People​​ love to hate on Dillon.
One thing people love to point out is the difficulty he's had in backing up his talk with competition results to match.
But they're missing the real problem Dillon has, and it's also what makes him so exciting to watch.
Dillon Danis' biggest problem is he just doesn't care about points: He only goes for the submission, at any and all cost.
​Danis vs Gordon Ryan. Photo: Hywel Teague / FloGrappling
This all-or-nothing style means that he is always huge fun to watch. But he gets scored on a lot, or he finds himself stuck in bad spots and unable to get out.
It's tough not to respect this "kill or be killed" mentality, and it's never boring to watch. But it's hurt his resume.
Going into ADCC 2017, Danis had won only two out of seven matches, with both victories against AJ Agazarm (one gi under IBJJF rules, one no-gi submission-only).
He lost on points in the first round of both Pans and Worlds to Lucas Rocha, Lucas Barbosa and Luiz Panza (absolute division), respectively. He dropped a decision to Garry Tonon and lost via escape time to Jake Shields.
Danis found himself matched with Gordon Ryan in the first round of the ADCC 2017 -88kg division. Fifteen minutes later and tied 0-0, the decision went against him. Many people watching thought Danis had a case that he won the match.
Returning for the absolute, he submitted Japanese grappler Yukiyasu Ozawa, before losing via one negative point to Mahamed Aly.
Danis is now 3-9 in 2017. In 2016, he had 20 matches, winning 12.
Nobody has come close to submitting him in the last two years, but what makes Danis so watchable may also be what's holding him back.
Dillon Danis vs Yukiyasu Ozawa
Dillon Danis vs Mahamed Aly
​Dillon on the back of Mahamed Aly. Photo: Hywel Teague / FloGrappling
Danis has faced heavy criticism for everything from his friendship with Conor McGregor to his fashion sense and from his recent exit from the Marcelo Garcia Academy to his style of posting on social media.
People​​ love to hate on Dillon.
One thing people love to point out is the difficulty he's had in backing up his talk with competition results to match.
But they're missing the real problem Dillon has, and it's also what makes him so exciting to watch.
Dillon Danis' biggest problem is he just doesn't care about points: He only goes for the submission, at any and all cost.
​Danis vs Gordon Ryan. Photo: Hywel Teague / FloGrapplingThis all-or-nothing style means that he is always huge fun to watch. But he gets scored on a lot, or he finds himself stuck in bad spots and unable to get out.
It's tough not to respect this "kill or be killed" mentality, and it's never boring to watch. But it's hurt his resume.
Going into ADCC 2017, Danis had won only two out of seven matches, with both victories against AJ Agazarm (one gi under IBJJF rules, one no-gi submission-only).
He lost on points in the first round of both Pans and Worlds to Lucas Rocha, Lucas Barbosa and Luiz Panza (absolute division), respectively. He dropped a decision to Garry Tonon and lost via escape time to Jake Shields.
Danis found himself matched with Gordon Ryan in the first round of the ADCC 2017 -88kg division. Fifteen minutes later and tied 0-0, the decision went against him. Many people watching thought Danis had a case that he won the match.
Returning for the absolute, he submitted Japanese grappler Yukiyasu Ozawa, before losing via one negative point to Mahamed Aly.
Danis is now 3-9 in 2017. In 2016, he had 20 matches, winning 12.
Nobody has come close to submitting him in the last two years, but what makes Danis so watchable may also be what's holding him back.
​WATCH:
Dillon Danis vs Gordon RyanDillon Danis vs Yukiyasu Ozawa
Dillon Danis vs Mahamed Aly
​Dillon on the back of Mahamed Aly. Photo: Hywel Teague / FloGrappling