Nathaniel Wood calls out Dillon Danis, saying he doesn't belong in MMA after his performance against Logan Paul

UFC star Nathaniel Wood is not impressed with Dillon Danis' performance against Logan Paul last Saturday. After a chaotic build-up, Danis lost via disqualification after attempting an illegal guillotine choke on Paul in the final round. This prompted security to flood the ring in an embarrassing conclusion to the contest.

Wood believes this performance could be used as ammunition to undermine genuine MMA fighters who are prepared to step into the boxing ring. Speaking to The Agency, Wood said: “I have never had Danis down as an MMA guy. But then Jake Paul starts talking about how we [him and brother Logan] are smashing these MMA guys and that is not right."

He added: “It is embarrassing to be thinking there are people out there thinking these MMA fighters can’t fight. I just hope people don’t view Danis as representing the MMA world, which I don’t think he was. Let’s be honest, we only talk about his grappling. He is not a striker. It was the same with Ben Askren. Put these guys in a boxing ring what do you expect?”

Wood's return to the Octagon this weekend at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi marks a quick turnaround having beaten Andre Fili in London in July, and getting married in August. He is set to take on knockout star Muhammad Naimov, who made his UFC debut in June with a spectacular knockout win over Jamie Mullarkey.

Wood had hoped to secure a fight against a top 15 ranked opponent, but was offered Naimov instead. He said: "If I’m honest I wanted a top 15 opponent, that is what I have been asking for. But I know what it is like, if no15 up to 10 are busy, you either have to wait for them or you just fight and at the end of the day I don’t get paid if I don’t fight."

However, he is determined to make the most out of the opportunity and is not underestimating his opponent. Wood said: "I don’t imagine they will rank me beating Naimov, unless I get it done pretty damn quick. But I have no idea how the rankings work. Lerone Murphy just beat a guy [Joshua Culibao] that drew with a guy I smashed [Charles Jourdain]. I don’t get it.

"Anyone I go up against, 10 fights into their UFC career or 0 fights into their UFC career, everyone has the ability to beat each other. I give him credit for accepting this, it is a big step up. It is a hell of step up. But we are both fighters chasing the dream and he will be knowing there is a big reward for him.”

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