Dillon Danis is threatening to pull out of his fight with KSI after learning of a restrictive rehydration clause that will see him weigh in for a second time on fight day.
Danis is due to face KSI on January 14 at the OVO Arena Wembley and appears to have been treating the fight flippantly over the past few weeks, despite training hard when he did hit the gym. He admitted during an appearance on The MMA Hour last week that he wasn't even sure if the bout were professional or exhibition and also claimed to not have a head coach for his camp.
But he now seems to have educated himself on the true nature of his deal with the YouTube star, and with just over two weeks to go until fight night is raising issues with the bout. He is unhappy with the rehydration clause, which is standard in boxing but apparently not so in MMA, as well as the fact that it's not a full professional bout.
However, KSI's manager and Misfits Boxing boss Mams Taylor has tweeted about the situation, detailing exactly what is in Danis' deal, noting that it was made over two months ago and very clearly had the rehydration clause as a key factor. The pair will fight at a catchweight of 177.5lbs and must weigh in at 4pm on fight day at 185lbs.
Danis claimed in an interview with Chael Sonnen last night that he would only be allowed 4lbs as his rehydration limit, but those terms would give him 7.5lbs, which is still difficult on his body if he struggles to make 177.5lbs. Danis has previously fought at 175lb in Bellator twice but looked considerably bigger on fight night.
Who do you think wins on January 14; Dillon Danis or KSI? Let us know your thoughts and predictions in the comments section below!
During his interview with Sonnen, Danis admitted that after almost four years out of action with injuries, he has become a "bigger guy", but vowed to make weight on the Friday before fight night. However, he seemed baffled by the imposition of a second weigh-in on fight night, where each pound over the weight would incur a heavy fine.
Taylor has also claimed that KSI wanted to make the cut to 170lbs for the Danis fight, but had agreed to the heavier catchweight. He was annoyed to see Danis complain so close to fight night about his deal, insisting that they could have got another opponent in for the event.
The fight, which headlines a DAZN pay-per-view event, will be contested over six rounds of three minutes, with the pair wearing 10oz gloves. However, it is not professionally sanctioned by the British Boxing Board of Control, instead being run by the PBA under slightly altered 'crossover boxing' rules that have previously included standing eight counts and three-round fights.
