Online casino to run mixed combat show in Florida, Perry vs. Danis headlines

A newly formed organization called Duel, backed by online crypto casino Duelbet and run in conjunction with matchmaker Dean Toole, announced its debut MMA event for August 29 at the Kia Arena in Orlando. The headliner pairs Mike Perry (15–8) against Dillon Danis (2–0) at welterweight, with the card also featuring kickboxing and boxing bouts. The event may involve co-promotion from Jorge Masvidal's Gamebred Fighting Championship.

Perry, a UFC veteran, has remained active in combat sports since departing the promotion in 2021. Though his recent MMA record stands at one win in five outings, he has competed extensively in bare-knuckle fighting, where he claimed and defended the symbolic "King of Violence" trophy with stoppages over Eddie Alvarez and Jeremy Stephens. He also founded Dirty Boxing Championship and took a late-notice boxing match against Jake Paul in 2024, losing in the sixth round. Perry returned to traditional MMA in May at the first MVP MMA event, decisively defeating Nate Diaz and forcing his corner's stoppage in the second round.

Danis, a former Bellator fighter and jiu-jitsu specialist, has not competed in sanctioned MMA since 2019. His recent visibility has centered on controversy: a disqualification from a 2023 Misfits boxing bout against Logan Paul after attempting takedowns and a choke; his permanent ban from UFC events due to altercations; and an ongoing defamation lawsuit filed by Paul's fiancée, Nina Agdal. His legal team has withdrawn representation twice after payment issues.

The announcement of the Perry–Danis bout generated overwhelmingly negative social media reaction, including responses from UFC cutman Brad Tate, fighters Philip Rowe, Charles Johnson, and Jorge Masvidal. Multiple observers have speculated the matchup may not hold. The MMA community has flagged the pairing as problematic, though specifics of the objections vary widely across the fighter and personality responses.