“We’re taking everything we’ve learned from decades of combat sports and creating something more authentic, more dynamic, and more relevant to the next generation. DBX 2 is where that shift becomes undeniable,” co-founder Jon Jones said about the Dirty Boxing Championship—a hybrid combat sports promotion—back in May 2025, ahead of DBX 2. Since then, the promotion has come a long way.

Now, as the year nears its end, DBX has reached its fourth installment. DBX 4 took place at The Pinnacle in Nashville, Tennessee, headlined by Gable Steveson vs. Billy Swanson. Yet, it wasn’t the main event that stole the show. The night’s most talked-about moment came from the middleweight clash between Jaleel Willis and Peter Stanonik, where a terrifying knockout left the crowd on the edge of their seats.

Jon Jones’ fighter brings out an uppercut from hell

Stanonik opened the fight aggressively in the first round, pressing forward and setting a high pace. Willis, however, quickly adapted and matched his energy, leading to an entertaining back-and-forth exchange. By the second round, Willis had clearly found his rhythm. He began to dominate the striking exchanges, landing several powerful shots before finishing the fight at 2:28 of Round 2 with a devastating uppercut that left Stanonik sprawled on the canvas.

The 37-year-old collapsed instantly as the referee stepped in to wave off the contest. Following the knockout, ACD MMA reported that “STANONIK WAS OUT FOR SEVERAL MINUTES” after the bout concluded. While it’s still unclear whether he sustained any serious injuries, no official reports have confirmed the same. Interestingly, this was Willis’ debut with Dirty Boxing Championship, while Stanonik had previously secured a win over John Marquez at DBX 2 in June.

Stanonik now holds a professional record of 6-5-0, having competed in Bellator and LFA, among others. Meanwhile, Jon Jones’ fighter boasts a record of 17-7-0 across multiple major promotions, including Bellator, LFA, and PFL. After footage of the knockout went viral on X, fans flooded social media, calling for Willis to be signed by the UFC, the very promotion that houses Jon Jones.

Jaleel Willis’ UFC journey begins

Fans quickly took to the comment section of the post. One user thought Stanonik was asking for a knockout. “[The] guy was begging to get chinned lol,” the user commented. However, the 37-year-old may have just been overconfident moving forward. 

Meanwhile, this user thought 33-year-old Willis would eventually make it to the UFC. “That uppercut was brutal—Willis made a statement, but the road to the UFC still runs through consistency and control,” the user wrote. However, it’s yet to be seen whether that really happens. 

However, this user felt that there was no need for waiting. “Get him into the UFC. Future champion,” the user commented. Well, only Dana White can decide his fate. 

Someone else highlighted Stanonik’s mistake that cost him the fight. “[Eyes] on the ref,” the user commented. However, that doesn’t appear to be the case. 

The next user was simply impressed by Willis. “God damn, that was beautiful,” the user commented. A few more of those, and a bit of buzz, UFC might not be that far away. 

That being said, the public was clearly impressed by Jaleel Willis’ performance. But does it warrant a move to the UFC? What did you think about the bout?