KSI’s Return to the Ring: A Long-Awaited Matchup
On March 29, social media sensation and boxing enthusiast KSI will return to the ring to face Dillon Danis, a fight that was originally scheduled for 2023 but never took place. The matchup has been a long time coming, and KSI has been vocal about his frustration with the number of fighters who have declined to face him. In a recent video on his YouTube channel, KSI expressed his exasperation, stating, "You guys always say that my opponents have been terrible, but how many people pull out? I don’t think you understand how many people pull out of fighting me."
The Rejected Offers: UFC Stars Say No
KSI’s team reached out to several prominent UFC fighters to gauge their interest in facing him in March, but every request was rebuffed. KSI revealed, "Even with this fight, I know I’m not even allowed to say it, but f*ck it. Dillon Danis wasn’t even my fourth choice. We went to Nate Diaz. He said no. We went to Donald Cerrone. He said no. We went to Tony Ferguson. He said no. These guys said no to me. Even [Jorge] Masvidal—we went to Masvidal to fight. He can’t do it because of the UFC." It’s worth noting that both Cerrone and Masvidal are under exclusive contracts with the UFC, making them unavailable. Ferguson, on the other hand, recently signed with the GFL, where he hopes to make his debut later this year. Diaz, who hasn’t fought since July 2024 when he beat Masvidal in a back-and-forth boxing match, is the only one whose response remains unclear.
The Darren Till Conundrum
KSI also addressed calls for him to face another UFC veteran, Darren Till, who has made a successful transition to boxing with a brutal stoppage victory over Anthony Taylor in his latest fight. "I know you guys are going to be like ‘what about Darren Till?’ Darren Till probably isn’t going to want to fight at my fight weight, and then if he does, he’s not going to want to do the rehydration clause," KSI explained. "Because brother is huge compared to me. I walk around at what, 190, 195 [pounds]. Darren Till walks around at 220. I’m not going to allow him to do what Tommy Fury did. Just kill himself to get to a certain weight, go on the scale, and then balloon right back up to his natural weight. So guess what, ladies and gentlemen? It’s Dillon Danis."
A Personal Grudge: KSI vs. Dillon Danis
Despite the disappointments, KSI isn’t all that disappointed with the Danis fight, considering the history they share. When Danis pulled out of their previously scheduled matchup, KSI was left scrambling for a new opponent. This time, however, he’s confident the former Bellator fighter will show up. "Obviously, Misfits 3 I was meant to fight him and then he pulled out, and I had to fight [Faze] Temper instead," KSI explained. "Now, ladies and gentlemen, I get my hands on him for real. That brother ain’t pulling out this time because that boy is getting sued by Logan Paul and obviously he needs to pay for the court proceedings."
Legal Troubles and Financial Motivation
Danis is currently embroiled in a lawsuit filed against him by Logan Paul’s fiancée Nina Agdal, who claims he made her suffer "humiliation, emotional distress, and reputational harm" from more than 250 posts he made about her on social media leading up to his fight against Paul. KSI believes Danis’ financial situation is a significant motivator for the fight. "So he needs all the money he can get, and you know what? I’m quite excited to get to be the first person to knock out Dillon Danis. I think it’s going to be a fantastic day when it happens."
The Jake Paul Feud: A Tangled Web
In addition to all the opponents who didn’t choose to face him, KSI also addressed the long-standing feud he shares with Jake Paul. Their rivalry has been a source of headlines and controversy since both started boxing. Paul recently made news by being linked to a potential fight against Canelo Alvarez, which ultimately fell through. KSI was quick to point out that Paul was being used as a pawn. "Jake Paul was too busy crying that he didn’t get the Canelo fight," KSI said. "Even though he never had the Canelo fight. He was basically being used as a pawn. Canelo was just trolling. Why would Canelo want to fight Jake Paul? [Jake Paul is] running away from me! Bro does not want to fight me. Just like all these ex-UFC fighters. No one wants to fight me. People fight Jake Paul because they have a chance of beating him because he’s not actually that good."
