Though it was from perfect, Darren Till managed to bring an unbelievable performance in his BKFC debut, scoring a finish of Aaron Chalmers at BKFC 90.
Late in the first round, Chalmers caught Till with a left hand, causing the Liverpool-born fighter to stumble and his knee to touch the mat, giving Chalmers a knockdown.
Till was not deterred, however. In the second round, Till would land his own left hand on Chalmers, crumbling him to the canvas.
Darren Till KOs Aaron Chalmers In BKFC Debut At BKFC 90
Chalmers was unable to continue and beat the count, giving Till the knockout victory.
Darren Till was DROPPED in the first round of his BKFC debut but came back to knock out Aaron Chalmers in round 2
Till delivered a classic post fight victory speech going back to his UFC days
Till, the former UFC welterweight title challenger, fought in boxing three times in 2025. After defeating Anthony Taylor and Darren Stewart, Till defeated Luke Rockhold to become the first bridgerweight champion of Misfits Boxing.
Chalmers came into this bout off a win over Jack Fincham in September.
Darren Till says a financial offer he could not refuse was the reason he signed with BKFC after years of publicly dismissing the sport, and says his eventual goal is a fight with Mike Perry.
Speaking to MMA Fighting, Till was candid about what changed.
“What changed is my bank account got a few zeroes in it. The opportunity was too good to pass. David had been on me for a while. He spoke to my manager back and forth, he sat down with the team and said ‘Darren, look, the time is now, the offer’s really good and Darren it sort of fits your style, suits your style the way you fight.’ I’m a boxing, punch combination guy. I do hit hard. I’ve got big hands and stuff.”
Till described the mindset he plans to bring to bare-knuckle.
“I’ve got one of the guys out with me that’s done 13 bare-knuckle fights so he obviously knows his way around. I think in this bare-knuckle from me speaking my opinion, I think it’s a ‘f*ck you’ attitude you’ve got to have. You’re going to get hit. You’re going to get cut. It’s going to hurt. If that’s my only fear, there’s no sleepless nights. Nothing. Confidence is high.”
On MMA, the 33-year-old was honest about his future in the sport.
“I’ve had my time in the UFC. I didn’t do too badly. I’ve had a good little go in Misfits. Probably 85 percent MMA is behind me to be honest with you.”
Perry — the face of BKFC — had originally been planned as Till’s debut opponent before Perry signed with Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions for his fight with Nate Diaz. Till said he will stay in BKFC until that fight happens.
“I’ll stay around the bare-knuckle until it happens. So if I have to take 10 fights to get to the Mike Perry fight, that’s what’s going to happen, isn’t it? Obviously, I’m coming over to his turf. He’s the ‘King of Violence.’ I’ve got to take his title from him. Hopefully by the end of this year, that fight gets made and we finally meet in the center.”
Darren Till believes Khamzat Chimaev is beatable, but he does not see anyone in the current middleweight division capable of doing it right now except possibly the man standing across from him at UFC 328.
Speaking with Full Mount MMA, Till drew on his firsthand experience training with the undefeated champion to offer his most honest assessment of where Chimaev stands heading into his first title defense against Sean Strickland.
“Anyone’s beatable. He knows that himself. That’s why he trains so hard. He’s not stupid. Right now, with the current state of the middleweight division, I don’t see anyone beating him. Sean’s probably got the chance if that, but in this era now, I think he’s going to be dominant.”
Till identified a second fighter outside of Strickland who he believes poses a credible threat, while making clear which matchup excites him most.
“Paulo Costa’s a good fight, because Paulo’s big and strong. I do like that fight as well, I know there’s a big beef there. I think for me the fight that waters my mouth the most is the Sean Strickland fight, and obviously we’re getting that now.”
Chimaev carries a perfect 15-0 record into UFC 328, which takes place May 9 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
Darren Till has opinions about the MVP MMA card on May 16, and none of them are particularly generous toward the fighters involved.
Speaking with MMA Fighting about his BKFC signing and the Perry situation, Till was asked about the Netflix event and delivered a sweeping verdict on the entire card.
“It’s just a mongoloid fight, isn’t it? Just a pair of f***ing Teletubbies fighting each other. Nate Diaz can’t string a sentence together, neither can Mike. It’s trash. American trash. Just trash. Everyone on that card is trash, actually. In fact, it’s a full card of mongoloids. Trash.”
Till also revealed that MVP had been in contact with his manager about potentially booking him on the show, but talks went nowhere.
“MVP were chatting to my manager. I think they were in touch. I was obviously interested in fighting Jake. Jake’s got other plans in life. If that fight ever one day arises, then yeah, it’s there. But they reached out, nothing came to terms. Got nothing bad to say about them, to be honest with you. Nakisa seems like a cool guy. Hopefully, one day we do business.”
Despite the harsh words for the card, Till acknowledged the financial reality behind Perry and Diaz’s participation and gave credit where he felt it was due.
“I do slight Mike Perry a lot but if he’s going to make a lot of money there on MVP with Nate Diaz, props to them. But I don’t hate Nate. I don’t hate Mike. I give them s—, but if they’re making a lot of money, I have to give all respect and kudos, too.”
He also made clear his willingness to say exactly what he thinks is not something he plans to change, regardless of the reaction.
“Look, I don’t give a f***. I’m going to speak my mind, and people can take it however they want it. I don’t care about it. No one’s above it or anything like that. My ego’s been hurt enough. I’ve been knocked out in front of millions. Imagine how I feel!”
Darren Till has signed with BKFC, and his first order of business was calling out the man who was supposed to be his debut opponent.
Till joined the promotion under the same banner as Mike Perry, who holds the BKFC King of Violence championship, with the expectation that the two would finally settle years of back-and-forth. Those plans collapsed when Perry signed to face Nate Diaz on the MVP MMA card on Netflix on May 16, leaving Till without his intended opponent. Speaking with MMA Junkie, Till did not disguise his frustration.
“He’s ran. He’s running toward that big dope Nate Diaz on MVP. I’ve come to BKFC and now he’s run away. Him and his manager need to get a grip of themselves. These two, they’re a pair of bums.
Sort your s— out and make the fight with me because I’ll rip him to shreds. I hope he will come back. Honestly, I don’t care about them two m—oloids fighting. A pair of down-and-out bums. Look at them. They’re just slow and old, and their faces are all crusty.”
Till’s BKFC debut will instead come against Aaron Chalmers. The Perry fight remains something he intends to make happen once Perry returns from his MVP commitment.
Darren Till is backing his close friend Khamzat Chimaev to defend the middleweight title at UFC 328, but he is not doing so without a candid warning about the risk of playing into Strickland’s hands.
Speaking with MMA Junkie, Till acknowledged the genuine difficulty of the matchup while ultimately siding with the champion, drawing on firsthand experience training with Strickland to frame the challenge Chimaev faces.
“I love Khamzat to death. He’s my f***ing boy, but I think he’s got a very tough fight with Sean. I’ve trained with Sean, and he’s got very great defense of getting back to the feet. But if you want me to say it as a whole, I think Khamzat’s on a roll, and I think Khamzat’s going to be way too strong and too powerful for him. But also, I would like Khamzat not to run in there and gas himself out because he is very seasoned and is able to go the five rounds. If I’m giving advice as a friend, that’s what I would say to him.”
Till laid out a straightforward prediction while emphasizing the importance of patience alongside power.
“How I see the fight, I see Khamzat dominating. But also go in there with a good, strategical plan. You know what I mean?”
UFC 328 takes place May 9 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
Darren Till has a warning for his close friend Tom Aspinall about the management deal that has put the UFC heavyweight champion on Dana White’s bad side.
Appearing on The Ariel Helwani Show on Monday, Till spoke candidly about Aspinall’s decision to sign with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Talent Agency last month. The two Liverpudlians have known each other for years, and Till said he would give Aspinall the same honest take in private that he was giving on camera.
“If Tom was sat here with me now, me and Tom have had deep, deep convos all our life, if Tom was to say, ‘What do you think?’ I’d go, ‘I think it was a bad move, Tom, because it’s just going to put you in bad stead with the UFC,’” Till said. “Dana is going to get a mini cob on. They’re probably going to do little things just to [undermine you]. That’s how I see it. And I’m always going to speak.”
Till Believes Aspinall Got Paid, But At a Cost
Till stressed that Aspinall is not being played by anyone and likely extracted real value from the deal. The concern is what happens inside the UFC now that the champion has a powerful outside representative pushing his interests.
“Tom’s not stupid. He hasn’t been used as a pawn because he’ll be doing what’s best for him moneywise as well,” Till said. “He’s got a family there. Tom will be getting the most out of it moneywise. But signing with Eddie might have been a bit… I think it’s going to put him in bad stead with the UFC.”
The warning lines up with what has already happened. Aspinall received a text from White at 6pm on the day of UFC London in March asking if he wanted to attend, despite living five hours away. The heavyweight champion has also been passed over in promotion while Ciryl Gane and Alex Pereira fight for an interim title on June 14.
The MMA-Boxing Trap
Till also pushed back on the idea that MMA fighters can cross into boxing with minimal adjustment, a topic that has followed Aspinall since the Matchroom signing raised questions about a potential boxing move.
“All of us are MMA fighters. If we switch over, we like to go, ‘Well, I’ve done boxing.’ No, you haven’t. You’ve done boxing for MMA. What does that mean? You’ve been in a wide stance. You don’t throw close-quarter shots. Only two guys, Max Holloway, Justin Gaethje, really use boxing for MMA. But MMA and boxing are two completely different things,” Till said.
Aspinall is still not cleared for contact training following double eye surgery after the Gane fight at UFC 321 last October. Till has been through his own UFC-to-boxing pivot and is now moving on to BKFC, with his bare-knuckle debut set for May 30.
Darren Till does not watch the UFC anymore, and he wants Dana White to know exactly what he thinks of how the promotion is being run.
Speaking with Ariel Helwani on The Ariel Helwani Show on Monday, the former UFC welterweight title challenger launched into an extended critique of White’s handling of the promotion, the state of the UFC product, and the culture of media scrums where he believes reporters are too afraid to ask real questions.
“I do like Dana, but I just think Dana’s ego is getting a little bit too much out of control,” Till said. “I don’t even watch the UFC anymore. I couldn’t tell you half the people who fight on it. The events just aren’t juicy anymore. I think they’ve got very few stars left.”
“Who Gives a Sh*t? I Give a Sh*t”
Till saved his sharpest criticism for White’s habit of dismissing fan and media questions with the phrase “who gives a sh*t,” a line the UFC boss has used repeatedly in post-event scrums over the past year.
“Every time Dana is in a scrum, it’s like these reporters are scared to say the real thing. And when they do ask questions, Dana’s all sort of like, ‘Who gives a sh*t?’” Till said. “We give a sh*t. I give a sh*t. So give us a sh*t answer, baldy. Take your ego away. I’m sorry to slag, I’ll go on one now, but I give a sh*t. What do you mean ‘who gives a sh*t?’ We give a sh*t. So give us some sh*t answers. What are you on about?”
The frustration connects to a broader point Till made about how UFC cards used to feel. He pointed to co-main events like Robbie Lawler vs. Rory MacDonald and Conor McGregor vs. Jose Aldo as examples of fights that carried genuine weight, contrasting them with what he sees on cards now.
“The fights back then just had a different thing to them,” Till said. “I just look at the card now and I just think, a load of can of piss.”
Till Says Arman Tsarukyan Is Being Buried
The Liverpudlian also called out what he views as selective treatment of the promotion’s current stars, pointing specifically to Arman Tsarukyan as a fighter the UFC should be building into a headliner.
“Why is Arman Tsarukyan not getting the love he deserves? See what he’s doing? They’re mad at him because he gets crazy. He’s headbutting people, hitting fans on the way out. But he’s box office,” Till said. “I must have just passed my mind, Jon Jones has done all madness, Conor has done all madness, why [the different treatment]? Maybe they’ve got a personal vendetta.”
Till is set to make his BKFC debut at BKFC 90 in Birmingham on May 30, fighting Aaron Chalmers. It is a long way from Madison Square Garden, but for Till, it beats watching a UFC card he no longer recognizes.
Darren Till has admitted that a return to MMA is unlikely and followed the honest assessment with a pointed attack on Dana White and the current state of the UFC.
Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show ahead of his upcoming BKFC debut, Till explained that the physical requirements of an MMA comeback, specifically the knee surgery he would need before he could train properly, make the timeline essentially impossible given where he is now in his career.
“My body’s probably past that now, Ariel,” Till said. “The only way I could come back to MMA, if I think decisively, is at the end of this year, take a full year off to get the surgery on the knee and then take myself off to either Brazil, Russia, somewhere like that again for a year. Don’t think of anything but just do what I did when I first went to Brazil and grapple, grapple, grapple. Come back and yeah, but I’d be probably 35 by then, would it be too late? I don’t know. The sport’s always evolving.”
Till had previously been cleared to box without the knee surgery, making BKFC and boxing viable options without the full recovery period that MMA would require. He noted that the surgery he would need is similar to the procedure that former teammate Tom Aspinall underwent to continue his career.
He also used the conversation to address why the UFC no longer interests him the way it once did, delivering a direct critique of the promotion and its leadership. “The UFC has gone to sh—t a bit. I’m not happy with it. There’s just nothing there,” Till said, arguing that White is no longer as invested in the product as he once was and that the passion behind the promotion has faded.
Till has not competed in MMA since his loss to Dricus du Plessis at UFC 282 in 2022, after which he requested and received his release to pursue other options.
Darren Till has officially found a new fighting home, confirming a move into bare-knuckle boxing after teasing a major announcement earlier this week.
The former UFC welterweight title challenger has signed a multi-fight deal with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship and is set to make his debut at BKFC 90 on May 30. Till is expected to compete in the 185-pound division, though his opponent for the debut has yet to be announced.
The Gorilla is dropping the gloves 🦍 @darrentill2 Has inked a multi fight deal 🖊️ First fight May 30 at BKFC 90 in Birmingham, England 🏴 Who should he face first? pic.twitter.com/muoxDJc1RB
The event will take place at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham, England, marking Till’s first appearance under bare-knuckle rules.
Darren Till Set For BKFC Debut After Successful Boxing Run
“The Gorilla” enters BKFC following a strong stint in influencer boxing, where he went undefeated in three appearances under the Misfits banner. During that run, the 33-year-old Liverpudian secured wins over Anthony Taylor and Darren Stewart before knocking out former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold to claim the promotion’s bridgerweight title.
‼️ Darren Till KNOCKS DOWN Luke Rockhold in the 1st Round 💥🥊
After confirming his departure from Misfits on good terms, Till made it clear he was ready for a new challenge. That next step now comes in one of the fastest-growing and most physically demanding formats in combat sports.
Till himself expressed confidence and excitement about the move, signaling his intent to make an immediate impact in his new environment.
“I am very pleased to be signing with the BKFC. It’s an amazing promotion! F*ck everyone on this roster, I’m coming to be the face of violence. No one can beat me.”
While some fans had hoped for a return to MMA, this move instead opens the door to fresh matchups, including a long-discussed clash with BKFC superstar Mike Perry, a rivalry that dates back to their UFC days.
Darren Till has officially brought his stint with Misfits Boxing to an end, closing the chapter on a successful run in the influencer boxing scene.
The former UFC welterweight title challenger confirmed the split via social media, revealing that the decision was made amicably after a productive year with the promotion.
“The Gorilla” competed three times under the Misfits banner in 2025, picking up wins over Anthony Taylor, Darren Stewart, and Luke Rockhold. His victory over the former UFC middleweight champ also saw him capture the inaugural bridgerweight title, capping off an impressive unbeaten run.
‼️ Darren Till KNOCKS DOWN Luke Rockhold in the 1st Round 💥🥊
Despite the success, Till made it clear that the time had come to move on.
“I’ve got a very big announcement to make: I’ve parted ways with Misfits on really good terms,” Till said on Instagram. “I’m thankful for the 12 months I had with them and the three fights I had [where] I became champion. As I said, on extremely good terms. I’ve got nothing but love for Misfits and the owners and promoters, and all of the people who work behind the scenes. It’s time to try my hand at something else.”
The 33-year-old Liverpudian’s departure comes after he rebuilt momentum outside the UFC, having been released from the promotion in early 2023. His transition into boxing provided a fresh platform, and his performances suggested he still has plenty left to offer in combat sports.
Darren Till Teases ‘Massive Announcement’ After Misfits Exit
While confirming his exit, Till also hinted that his next move is already in motion and could be revealed very soon.
“Not a lot of people wanted to fight me,” Till said. “It was getting really hard to get fights, so in the next few days, I’m going to have a massive announcement. Some massive news. I’m sure you’re all going to be excited to see what I’m going to announce.
“And I just want to say thanks again to Misfits. Thanks to everyone involved, and I’ll probably be back there soon as well. This is not the end of it with Misfits.”
Although “The Gorilla” did not disclose specific details, his comments suggest that he is exploring new opportunities, which could range from a return to MMA to another high-profile venture in combat sports.
‼️ Darren Till confirms he has ‘parted ways’ with Misfits but he’ll probably be back in the future 🗣️
He has a massive announcement in the next few days 👀⏳
Former UFC star Darren Till has hit out at Ian Machado Garry over his altercation with Khamzat Chimaev.
As we know, Ian Machado Garry picked up a really nice win over Belal Muhammad in the co-main event of UFC Qatar last weekend. After that, however, in the wake of him calling out Islam Makhachev, the Irishman got into an altercation with Khamzat Chimaev backstage that initially seemed to be quite harmless.
Both men have had their say on it, and Ian Machado Garry certainly didn’t have the nicest of things to say about ‘Borz’ and how everything unfolded.
In a recent tweet, Chimaev’s good friend Darren Till had the following to say about Ian Machado Garry.
Ian Garry is such a good fighter man…
But by god is he possibly the fakest human on earth, fake beyond all beliefs. It’s so hard to like him. I’ve literally sat in my bedroom with my own little demons in my head telling me to force myself to like him. He’s calling Khamzat a…
“Ian Garry is such a good fighter man…But by god is he possibly the fakest human on earth, fake beyond all beliefs. It’s so hard to like him.
“I’ve literally sat in my bedroom with my own little demons in my head telling me to force myself to like him. He’s calling Khamzat a child. He was being fake. That whole interaction was fake. And when Ian turned you could see he was scared. Khamzat is like me. That’s why we were best mates.
“If you chat s**t when we see you what is… Ian is a really good fighter but he’s just such so unlikeable. So so so… unlikeable. Even hating on Leon’s performance the way he did. Garry got kicked out of that gym as he did of others cos he’s a wanker at the end of the day.
“As much as he’s a good fighter and I’ve tried to support Ian Garry is just a proper proper wanker… A fake wanker at that…”
Marvin Vettori was once in a middleweight super group online with the likes Khamzat Chimaev, Darren Till, and Sean Strickland until ‘The Italian Dream’ got the boot from it. This was situation was touched on by the former UFC middleweight title challenger during an interview with Helen Yee Sports. Vettori was covering several subjects ahead of his looming clash with Brunno Ferreira which is set for UFC 323 on December 6th.
Part of the reason for his group chat removal seems to be tied somewhat to his recent work at Beneil Dariush‘s Kings MMA Anaheim and prioritizing being in California more than Nevada, as of late, as Vettori said,
“We even have a group that Sean Strickland did on Instagram, and we were talking all kinds of stuff in that group—Darren Till and Khamzat were in it too. And even right after the fight, I said, ‘Listen, Darren, just stop it. You look horrible holding those pads.’ But he never answered. We used to bully Darren a little bit in that group. Sean kicked me out. It’s so funny. Like, people just sending videos… Sean never told you about it?”
“It was supposed to be a sparring group, and then they kicked me out since I’m not in Vegas all the time, and I didn’t show up. Khamzat even said it: ‘Oh, I didn’t show up for the sparring that time.’ But I was like, bro, am I going to drive five hours just to spar and then come back… I didn’t plan it. Plus, I got my own stuff going on, and I want to fight this guy, so I’m not going to spar him.”
Marvin Vettori receives flak for controversial online remarks
Marvin Vettori is someone who clearly does not mince words, and this was reflected in relatively recent online comments he made that many saw as antisemitic. In an aggressive retweet that took place on his personal X account, Vettori stated,
“F* all these people, this s* is getting out of hand, they control everything, f*** these ashkenazi Jews that wants control over the world. Here I said it.”
Vettori demonstrably does not care who his comments rub the wrong way, and it seems like all kinds of speech is on the table in this Dana White “free speech” era of the UFC.
Former UFC fighter Darren Till has spoken about the sponsorship deal regarding fighter kits that he believes was “cruel”.
Nowadays, Darren Till is one of the most exciting influencer boxers out there in the space. There’s even been talk of him getting a big fight against someone like Jake Paul or Andrew Tate, but of course, that has yet to be confirmed – and it’d take a lot of work to make it happen.
Alas, Darren Till is enjoying a pretty successful run post-UFC, most recently knocking out Luke Rockhold in pretty devastating fashion. During his UFC days, however, he had a strong career, even earning himself a shot at the UFC welterweight championship.
In a recent interview, though, Darren Till spoke about the Reebok/Venum sponsorship deals that restricted what fighters could earn from their attire.
Darren Till’s view on UFC’s sponsorship complications
“I don’t like to slander Dana too much, he gets a lot of heat, but obviously I have to be a truthful guy as well. I always stand on business with what I believe in as well, but even when you’re in the UFC, it’s like, ‘We’re going to take away your sponsorship now. We’re going to put Venum in there or Reebok,’” Till said.
“I was like, ‘What the f*cks going on now?’ So now the fighters aren’t even making money outside of it. It was actually quite cruel, some of it. It was, it was cruel.
“That sort of stuff, 10 plus 10, and then your fight’s set in stone, f*ck all that, that does not—For me now, I couldn’t be loving life more, I’ll be honest. I’ve just made a s**t-ton of money.”
Darren Till and The MMA Guru are going at it online.
Following his impressive third-round knockout of Luke Rockhold at Misfits Boxing 22, Till has decided to pick another fight, this time with the controversial influencer known for his brutally honest hot takes on all things related to combat sports.
“Who’s getting real real tired of that fat c*nt smelly tw*t @THATBOYMMAGURU,” Till wrote on X. Like am tired of him now. Like yeah… we know you speak ur mind. But ur fat. And ur definitely smelly. What’s ur comeback mate????? MATE????? F*cking fat c*nt. Keep ya mouth shut cos you’d get strangled in the street.”
Who’s getting real real tired of the fat cunt smelly twat @THATBOYMMAGURU Like am tired of him now Like yeah… we know you speak ur mind But ur fat And ur definitely smelly
What’s ur comeback mate?????
MATE?????? Fucking fat cunt Keep ya mouth shut cos you’d get strangled…
Darren Till and MMA Guru Continue to Trade Barbs on Social Media
Things only escalated from there with MMA Guru snapping back at the former UFC title challenger and sparking an intense back-and-forth between the two.
“How this bloated mong Darren Till reacts to seeing me join his gay little interview,” The MMA Guru wrote in response. “Got a face like a f*cking drowned man found at the bottom of a river with rocks in his pockets. Probably not the only rocks you’ve had in your pockets either is it mate no wonder your nose is so f*cked up go call out another 50 year old or influencer you fat little tramp.”
“Look how uninterested I am to see this fucking beg while he smiles himself into a Song Yadong impression Just sad honestly…” he added in a follow-up post.
“Are you calling me a coke head like Luke?” Till replied.
“Holy sh*t you figured that out all by yourself?” the Guru added. “For that kind of IQ they should have a statue of you in Liverpool with knives hanging out of it. You’d look like a down syndrome popup pirate.”
While some commenters were quick to take sides, others speculated as to whether or not this was all just a marketing stunt to score some clicks. Especially considering just a few weeks back, The MMA Guru commended Till on his performance against Rockhold and suggested ‘The Gorilla’ would absolutely destroy KSI in a potential boxing bout.
DARREN TILL DESTROYS LUKE ROCKHOLD AND FLATLINES HIM OUT COLD IN ROUND 3! #Misfits22
Knocks him down in round one, dominates the range and finishes in the third with a nasty combo
Tony Bellew can see Carl Froch making a return to the ring and Bellew isn’t ruling out donning the gloves one more time himself. Bellew expressed these sentiments recently during an exclusive interview with Pundit Arena. The discussions about Froch returning to the ring have been ignited by Darren Till’s call outs of ‘The Cobra.’
After Till’s last fight where he halted Luke Rockhold inside the distance at Misfits Boxing 22, the former UFC welterweight champion then put Froch in his proverbial crosshairs. Froch hasn’t competed since May 2014 when he stopped George Groves in the eighth round of their high stakes rematch inside of Wembley Stadium for the IBF world super middleweight championship.
Bellew thinks that if the money is right, he thinks that Carl Froch could be convinced to compete under Queensberry Rules once more as Bellew said,
“After the Darren Till fight, Carl fed into the narrative that he’s willing to get back in a boxing ring. I think he’s missing it. I think if it makes sense financially enough for Carl, he’ll do it.”
Tony Bellew isn’t ruling out his own return to the ring either
Tony Bellew also mentioned in this referenced interview that everyone does have a price. With the conversation touching on if Carl Froch would get out of retirement to fight Till but pivoting to Tony Bellew’s thoughts on mounting his own comeback, Bellew stated,
“I don’t really have a name I want to fight. But listen, we’ve all got a price. Do I want to? No. But then I’m stupid enough to say I would never do it? No I’m not. Because like I said before, we’ve all got a price. If someone was to stump up enough money, you’ve got me. If Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg have got a price, then so does the fat boy from Liverpool.”
Former UFC fighter Darren Till has explained why he believes he is a nightmare matchup for influencer boxers.
Right now, Darren Till is one of the most exciting fighters in the influencer boxing world. He has been able to pick up a string of impressive wins, with his most recent being a knockout over Luke Rockhold. Now, he’s looking ahead to the future, and he has quite a few interesting names that he wants to face.
Darren Till is looking for big money fights but beyond that, he also has a pretty good chance of beating most of the guys that he wants to battle. He is thriving in this environment and right now, it doesn’t even make sense for him to venture back over to mixed martial arts.
In a recent interview, Darren Till explained why he’s so dangerous for a lot of these guys.
Darren Till on why he’s a nightmare fight for influencer boxers
“I just know when I come up against the guys like Tommy and Jake… even if Jake is a bit more prepared just the willingness to win and stuff like that and just time and pressure fighting they ain’t got that in their locker… some of these guys probably move better as a boxer but you know when I’m twitching on you I’m taking all your breath away and I’m twitching.
“And I’m moving and I’m probably moving a little bit. Not like a boxer, more MMA. That’s different for me. You don’t know where the shots are coming from. And all these pro boxers have sparred in the gym. They always say to me, ‘I know your left’s coming, but I don’t know where it’s coming from.’”
Former UFC star Darren Till has revealed the list of fighters that he wants to face next in his boxing venture.
While he may never have become a UFC world champion, Darren Till is arguably one of the most intriguing fighters outside of the UFC bubble right now. He has been on a real run in his time with Misfits Boxing and in his most recent outing, he was able to knock Luke Rockhold out cold in what proved to be a really impressive performance.
Now, Darren Till is calling for even more big, exciting fights, and it certainly seems like he may get them. He is perhaps one of the best boxers in the influencer space and while a return to mixed martial arts is always on the table, it almost feels like he could create an even better legacy for himself outside of that sport – at least for the time being.
In a recent interview with Demetrious Johnson, Darren Till listed a few names that he’s interested in fighting in the future.
Darren Till’s desired fights
“We were campaigning for the Andrew Tate fight, still campaigning for the Tommy Fury fight, and obviously the Carl Froch one.”
“We have been pushing hard to get fights against people like Andrew Tate, Tommy Fury, and others because they bring interest and big paydays. As of now, we are still campaigning, but the opportunities are there and I’m ready.”
Get ready, folks, because ‘The Gorilla’ is gearing up to do some big things.
Controversial influencer Andrew Tate has made it clear that he would be interested in a boxing match against Darren Till.
As we know, Andrew Tate has been a pretty big name in the news cycle over the course of the last few years. His controversial statements and views have landed him in hot water on more than one occasion, and beyond that, he’s currently involved in some legal issues that have led to a great deal of debate regarding his imminent future.
Darren Till, meanwhile, is enjoying life outside of the UFC as he continues to build a name for himself as something of a juggernaut in the ‘influencer boxing’ scene. Recently, he’s made it known that he wants to throw down with Andrew Tate.
In a reply posted to social media, Andrew Tate issued a warning to Till whilst also praising him.
Andrew Tate responds to Darren Till's callout:
"I understand fighting me is life changing money for you (not me). But there's no need for name calling… I'm the superstar here. Talk nicely and I'll reply to your team's desperate messages." 👀😳
“Darren I think you’re hilarious. Always enjoyed your antics and humor. Also seen your career and respect it, you’re well liked in my circles. The fight would be great! I understand fighting me is life changing money for you (not me).
“But there’s no need for name calling. I really don’t like all that clown s*** and being rude etc. We’re both professionals here. I find it rude and if that’s the way you’re trying to get the fight it won’t happen. I’m the superstar here. Talk nicely and I’ll reply to your team’s desperate messages.”
Darren Till is eyeing a fight with the controversial Andrew Tate for his next outing and is making it known publicly. Till again put this desire for a Tate fight out there during a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show. The former UFC welterweight title challenger has been carving out a name for himself on the Misfits Boxing circuit with Till’s most recent win being a highlight reel KO of Luke Rockhold at Misfits Boxing 22 toward the end of August.
Tate is an extremely polarizing influencer who is also a retired kickboxer that has competed in MMA before as well. When outlining who he wants to fight next in the big gloves, Till said,
“Andrew Tate, listen. I’m calling you out. I want that fight. It’s been talked about a lot, but it hasn’t happened yet. I’m ready whenever you are. You think you can step in the ring with me? Let’s see what happens. I’m not scared. Let’s do it.”
Darren Till does have other options in mind if Tate bout doesn’t pan out
Darren Till did pointedly mention a few other names that he would like to throw down with under Queensberry Rules if the manosphere content creator does not step into the ring with him. ‘The Gorilla’, in the same referenced interview above, shouted out the likes of Carl Froch, Tommy Fury, Mike Perry, and Jorge Masvidal as individuals he would be keen to fight in the Misfits Boxing ring.
Froch is someone that Till called out on the microphone in the waning moments after his KO of former UFC champion Rockhold in Manchester. Carl Froch has been retired for years now and while he did not confirm a return, there seemed to be a certain level of intrigue in a future Till fight.
Tommy Fury was initially lined up to fight Till in the Misfits ring until a tongue in cheek comment from the latter about throwing kicks if the boxing bout did not go his way caused the young Fury to pull out of the planned bout. Perry and Masvidal are individuals he has history with as Till has long sought out a fight with ‘Platinum’ Perry which has inexplicably never happened while Till did fight Masvidal in the UFC and the UK native got knocked out by the former BMF champion in 2019.
Till had also mentioned in the chat with Helwani that he intends to compete again this calendar year by pointedly mentioning December as when he aims to return to the ring. It remains to be seen who Darren Till will throw down with around the holiday season.
Darren Till displayed violence in the way his fight with Luke Rockhold ended, folding him like a lawn chair in the third round to claim the inaugural Misfits Boxing bridgerweight championship in the main event of Misfits Boxing 22.
Rockhold got off to a strong start with crisp striking, but Till managed to land a pair of strong left hands late — with one of them being enough to drop Rockhold bad. Rockhold managed to get up at eight and made it into round two. Rockhold got to working the jab again during the second, but Till landed a flurry that appeared to look like it’d result in a standing eight-count — but the referee did not count it.
Till would finish things in the third round, pressuring Rockhold into the corner before landing a hard-hitting, brutal combination that dropped Rockhold out cold bad, completely flattened and mangled against the ropes.
Darren Till KOs Luke Rockhold In Brutal Fashion At Misfits Boxing 22
OH MY LORD THAT WAS ONE OF THE NASTIEST KO’S IN MISFITS HISTORY!!
Till was once considered a top rising name in MMA at welterweight, going 17-0-1 and challenging Tyron Woodley in a welterweight title fight at UFC 228. He’d lose the fight, starting a run of five losses in six fights over a four-year period that ended with a loss to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 282. Till has since found success in boxing with an exhibition win over Mohammad Mutie and victories in Misfits Boxing earlier this year over Anthony Taylor and Darren Stewart.
Rockhold went 16-6 in MMA, which includes middleweight title reigns in both Strikeforce and the UFC. Rockhold ended Chris Weidman’s undefeated record at UFC 194 to become UFC champion before dropping the title to Michael Bisping at UFC 199. After a win over David Branch, Rockhold lost three straight to end his MMA career, getting knocked out by Yoel Romero and Jan Blachowicz at UFC 221 and UFC 239, respectively, and dropping a decision to Paulo Costa at UFC 278.
Misfits Boxing 22, also known as MF & DAZN X Series 22: Ring of Thrones, took place on Saturday, August 30, at the AO Arena in Manchester, England, and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights.
In the main event, former UFC welterweight title challenger Darren Till delivered a devastating third-round knockout over ex-UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold to capture the inaugural MFB bridgerweight crown.
Adding to the excitement, former interim UFC lightweight champion Tony Ferguson secured his first win in six years, ending a historic eight-fight losing skid in the UFC, with a third-round TKO victory over Salt Papi for the MFB interim middleweight title.
Additionally, the Misfits Boxing 22 card featured a rare MMA clash as the controversial Dillon Danis made his long-awaited return to competition after more than six years, submitting Warren Spencer via a 15-second guillotine to capture the inaugural MF MMA light heavyweight championship.
Misfits Boxing 22 Results
Main Card
MFB bridgerweight title: Darren Till def. Luke Rockhold via knockout (R3, 1:08)
Interim MFB middleweight title: Tony Ferguson def. Salt Papi via (R3, 2:43)
Tensions are heating up between Darren Till and Luke Rockhold ahead of their weekend clash.
Both former UFC stars are set to face each other in the main event of Misfits Boxing 22: ‘Ring of Thrones’, where they will battle for the inaugural MFB bridgerweight title in a six-round showdown this Saturday at the AO Arena in Manchester, England.
𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐒 ⚔️
Darren Till takes on his biggest challenge yet in former UFC champion Luke Rockhold for the MFB Bridgerweight Championship. 🎖️
Salt Papi makes his triumphant return against the UFC veteran and legend Tony Ferguson for the MFB Interim Title. 😤… pic.twitter.com/QKhIkgzEz2
Till is poised to make his third appearance for the Misfits Boxing banner. Earlier this year, “The Gorilla” secured back-to-back victories over Anthony Taylor and Darren Stewart. Since leaving the UFC in February 2023, where he compiled a 6-5-1 record, the former welterweight title challenger has found a new home in boxing.
Meanwhile, Rockhold is set to make his gloved boxing debut after dabbling in bare-knuckle competition with BKFC in April 2023. He was last seen in action at Karate Combat 45 in April 2024, where he secured a TKO win over Joe Schilling. The former UFC middleweight champion left the organization after a unanimous decision defeat to Paulo Costa at UFC 278 in August 2022.
Image: @lukerockhold/Instagram
Darren Till And Luke Rockhold Agree To Sudden Rule Change Amid Heated Faceoff
On Thursday, Darren Till and Luke Rockhold attended the pre-fight press conference, radiating the same fiery tension that marked their initial faceoff last month. The presser quickly escalated, with both fighters exchanging heated words on the mic. Things predictably spiraled out of control, forcing security to step in and separate them before it turned into a full-blown melee.
Amid the volley of profanities, “The Gorilla” confronted Rockhold over his alleged refusal to agree to an eight-round bout.
“Let’s make it eight rounds,” Darren Till said. “You said to Mams [Taylor] you would pull out of the fight if it was eight. I’m ready for eight. So who’s the coke head?”
Rockhold quickly countered and took the challenge, but even a handshake attempt on stage nearly sparked a full-on fight. The fighters ultimately appeared to settle on an eight-round main event, with Till threatening to pull out if the condition wasn’t met.
The face-off quickly mirrored the intensity from earlier, with Till continuing to demand an eight-round bout while security held both opponents back. At that moment, the Scouser shoved Rockhold, nearly igniting chaos.
Luke Rockhold‘s old rival Michael Bisping has given his thoughts on Luke’s upcoming boxing showdown against Darren Till.
As we know, Luke Rockhold has had a rollercoaster ride of a career. While he was UFC middleweight champion, he’s also had a number of high profile defeats both in and outside of the promotion. Now, on Saturday night, he is preparing for his next challenge as he looks set to collide with Darren Till in the main event of Misfits Boxing 22.
For some, this is a silly fight that shouldn’t be happening. For others, though, it’s the kind of contest that brings in a lot of intrigue, if only because it’s a fight we never got to see in the cage.
In a recent video, Michael Bisping predicted that Darren Till will be the one to get his hand raised in his collision with Luke Rockhold.
Michael Bisping’s view on Darren Till vs Luke Rockhold
“So yeah, I think Darren Till goes out there and probably gets the knockout. Might even be in the first round. But I tell you what, may the best man win. I wish Luke Rockhold nothing but the best. I got nothing against this man. I actually think he’s a solid human being. I got to hang out with him a bit down at the gym last time after the training session. He’s a good dude.
“We were just competing at the same time and yeah, I was talking a bit of [expletive] back in the day. He was talking a bit of [expletive]. That’s what we do. We’re trying to sell fights. But when that’s all out the window, the man’s a good human being and he’s just trying to live his life the best way he can by using these things to make a living. And so is Darren Till.”
“My official prediction: Luke Rockhold gets knocked out by Darren Till probably rounds two or three.”
Darren Till is preparing for a boxing bout against Luke Rockhold later on this month but it seems like some discussion was had about his initial opponent being his former UFC rival, Jorge Masvidal. When Till and Masvidal threw down in March 2019, ‘Gamebred’ secured a memorable knockout in the second stanza which catapulted the latter to great successes throughout that particular year.
Per the UK combatant, there was apparently a level of dialogue had with Masvidal about having a rematch under Queensberry Rules but per Till, the money just didn’t seem to line up for Misfits Boxing and the former multi-time UFC welterweight title challenger coming over.
During an interview with Compare.bet where he touched on the fact that there was some discourse about Masvidal being the initial opponent for MFB 22 instead of Rockhold, Till said,
“I like Jorge Masvidal. I think we just both love a f**king tear-up. He got me last time, but I think he knows what time it is with me. I don’t mind Masvidal, I like him, I’ve got time for him. Can’t say a bad word.”
“I think a good amount of money was offered [to Masvidal to fight me instead of Rockhold] but he thought he was worth more. Whether he is or isn’t – he’s not in the UFC anymore – that’s up for debate and argument, but we’re not going to stand around arguing. We’ve got Luke now. If Masvidal comes after Luke once I’ve beat him, then yeah. If not, I’ll just have to swallow that one that he beat me.”
Razor 𝗦𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗣 🔪@darrentill2 ready for his THIRD main event this year as he faces @LukeRockhold in Manchester, August 30 👀
Darren Till on “head in the sky” Luke Rockhold: “I want to knock him flat out”
Darren Till and Luke Rockhold will battle for the MFB bridgerweight title at Misfits Boxing 22 on August 30th. Also all that card in Manchester will be Tony Ferguson doing battle with Salt Papi for the MFB interim middleweight strap.
Till has put together three wins in the sweet science since leaving the UFC, with back to back wins under the Misfits Boxing banner specifically as he dispatched Anthony Taylor and Darren Stewart. since Rockhold’s UFC departure, he has been all over the place with competitive forays under the BKFC, Karate Combat, and Craig Jones Invitational banners.
In the same interview referenced above while discussing this boxing bout with the former UFC and Strikeforce middleweight champion, Darren Till stated,
“There’s a little bit of fire in my belly because I know the way he walks around with his head in the sky. I want to knock him flat out; I’ve got a fire to knock him clean out . I’m f—ing buzzing. I’m gonna do a demolition job on him. I’m 100% certain that in this fight I’m going to knock him out in the first round. I’m 100% confident about that.”
