John Kavanagh wants Dillon Danis to focus on MMA return: ‘He’s not a boxer’

Straight Blast Gym (SBG) head coach, John Kavanagh, is optimistic that Dillon Danis will divert his attention from YouTube boxing matches and focus on pursuing a career in MMA.

Danis recently participated in a boxing spectacle against YouTuber and WWE SuperStar Logan Paul at Misfits Boxing: The PRIME Card in Manchester, England. The fight turned out to be more of a show than a sporting event, with Danis engaging in taunts, pulling guard, attempting takedowns, and ultimately disqualifying himself by causing a massive brawl.

Coach Kavanagh believes that Danis should focus on his strengths moving forward.

“I say this with utmost affection for Dillon. He knows I care for him deeply: I want him to put down his phone for a moment and return to Dublin,” Kavanagh expressed to MMA Junkie. “I’ve been urging him to come to Dublin. I understand he recently became a father, and we’re all thrilled about that. I would love to see him come back to Dublin and fully dedicate himself to mixed martial arts training. He is an MMA fighter, not a boxer.”

Following the event in England, Danis conveyed his intentions through social media, stating “UFC next.” This aligns with Kavanagh’s desires. Danis’ last professional MMA bout took place in 2019 at Bellator 222, where he secured a victory over Max Humphrey in the first round with an armbar submission. This was only his second professional MMA fight, following a first-round submission in his debut under the Bellator banner 14 months prior.

His limited activity in MMA can be attributed, in part, to a significant knee injury that necessitated multiple surgeries. The procedures did not go as planned, resulting in the need for further operations.

Now, with those challenges behind him, Danis appears ready to compete on a more consistent basis. Kavanagh hopes this means he will return to SBG or, at the very least, focus solely on MMA.

“He is an MMA fighter and exceptional when he trains in the gym. He has faced unfortunate injuries and setbacks. I hope he made good money from boxing and has secured his child’s future, rather than spending it on luxuries. I want to see him back at my gym or any other gym, with his head down, displaying his abilities in the cage.”

This story was originally published on MMA Junkie