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Tag: Darren Till

  • Darren Till Predicts Jake Paul vs. Mike Perry, Provides Update On Future: ‘We Always Push For War, Never Peace!’

    Darren Till Predicts Jake Paul vs. Mike Perry, Provides Update On Future: ‘We Always Push For War, Never Peace!’

    Former UFC title challenger Darren Till is set to finally make his combat sports return this weekend after taking a late-notice fight at Social Knockout 3 in Dubai.

    Till was previously scheduled to make his long awaited boxing debut against Julio César Chávez Jr. on the undercard of Jake Paul’s fight with Mike Tyson. With that card being postponed until November, the fight was off, but the Brit hopes that he will still be a part of that event in some capacity when it takes place later this year.

    It has taken him a long time to get back in the mix, and after having this big fight collapse, he doesn’t want to lose out on the big opportunities that could have come with getting a win on July 20.

    Till is still targeting two of the biggest names that are out there for him in boxing as they’re set to meet on the originally planned date for Paul vs. Tyson.

    Darren Till Talks Wanting To Face Jake Paul & Mike Perry, Predicts Their Upcoming Fight

    In an interview with Fred Talks Fighting ahead of his return to competition, Till laid out his plans for the near future.

    Regardless of what happens on July 20, he is hoping to face either Mike Perry or Jake Paul, and there’s no denying that both fights would be big occasions for “The Gorilla.”

    “I think it’s either Jake Paul or Mike Perry at this point. Me and Mike Perry have got a lot of history. … It’s always beef, it’s always war with Mike. We always push for war, never peace.”

    Till also gave his prediction for the upcoming clash between Perry and Paul that was announced shortly after the postponement of the Tyson fight.

    The former UFC fighter finds it difficult to call a winner because of what both men bring to the table, but he is leaning ever so slightly toward “The Problem Child.”

    “I keep 50:50 on both, some days I say Jake ‘cause I know Jake’s the bigger man, but then I don’t think you can rule Perry out. Perry’s a tough man and he’s been beating all these veterans now. like, I think it’s a 50:50. I’m gonna sway towards Jake a little bit more.”

  • Darren Till Details Prank Khamzat Chimaev Pulled At The UFC PI

    While we would expect Darren Till and Khamzat Chimaev to be up to no good in the gym, it turns out the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas isn’t safe, either.

    While their interactions on social media and hilarious Instagram Live session had teased a budding ‘bromance’ between the two UFC stars, not many would have been expecting the pair’s link up to have gone as well as it has.

    What started as an offer from Chimaev to help train Till following the Englishman’s devastating loss to Derek Brunson last September has blossomed into an unlikely friendship.

    It has since seen the pair spend weeks together at Stockholm’s Allstar Training Center, travel to the US, and even go to dinner as a fearsome threesome with UFC President Dana White.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CbWuMfNO6ky/

    Having spent so much time in each other’s company, it’s unsurprising there are some hilarious tales to be told. One of those was revealed last week, and it perhaps won’t please UFC staff…

    Till Snitches On Chimaev’s PI Prank

    Having traveled to London to support teammate Tom Aspinall’s main event clash with Alexander Volkov this past weekend, Till completed a Q&A session with his home fans during fight week.

    When asked to disclose the craziest thing he’s done alongside “Borz,” the Liverpudlian suggested that would have to stay behind closed doors.

    “I can not say on the mic [LAUGHS]. I’ll be surprised if we make it through this year though,” joked Till. “He told me he wants to come back to Liverpool and train and live.”

    However, there was one moment Till was willing to narrate, and it perhaps demonstrates the kind of shenanigans most would expect from the pair’s ventures.

    “I’ve got a brilliant story that I think is funny. So, we’re training at the UFC PI in Vegas, and obviously, all fighters eat free and stuff like that, but they have a fridge full of like, protein drinks and monsters and like, these nice milk drinks they do,” recalled Till. “So me and Khamzat were getting our food the other day and he looks at me, and he’s got like, his big UFC bag, and he goes—starts just ruffling everything into his UFC bag.

    UFC 267: Khamzat Chimaev has championship talent, says Dana White
    Khamzat Chimaev

    “So the next day, I was coming out to the changing rooms and I heard one fighter say to his friend, ‘F*cking hell, I’ve been coming here everyday for the past week and there’s no drinks [LAUGHS]. So yeah, there’s a good story. He’s probably messaging me right now.”

    I think we can expect the UFC to add some additional cameras around the drinks fridge moving forward…

    Are Darren Till and Khamzat Chimaev the best duo in MMA right now?

  • Israel Adesanya Jabs Till For UFC London Cage Jump, Till Fires Back

    UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya and middleweight contender Darren Till appear to not be as cordial as once previously thought.

    Till was in attendance to corner his friend, heavyweight contender Tom Aspinall, in the main event of UFC London. Following Aspinall’s first-round submission of Alexander Volkov, Till jumped on top of the cage with Aspinall to bask in the energy of the raucous London crowd.

    After watching the fight and the celebration, Adesanya wasn’t happy watching Till join in the post-fight pleasantries. He blasted Till during a UFC London live reaction posted to his YouTube channel.

    “Oh, sit down, Darren. It’s not your moment. Sit the f* down, it’s not your moment. Get the f* off.” (h/t MMA Fighting)

    Adesanya is fresh off his latest title defense against Robert Whittaker at UFC 271 and is expected to face Jared Cannonier next. However, he’s mentioned a potential matchup with Till happening if Till can get on another win streak.

    Darren Till Responds To Israel Adesanya

    After watching Adesanya’s reaction to Till jumping on top of the cage at UFC London, Till responded in a post on his Instagram story.

    “Adesanya you idiot, Tom Aspinall asked me to get on the cage with him,” Till replied. “Keep looking down on me for my losses, brother, it’s all good. I’ll be here one day, you watch…

    “You haven’t looked the best either in your last few fights. Stay off the cocaine, it’s not healthy for fighters…”

    Till is planning on a return to the Octagon later in 2022, in a potential fight with Uriah Hall. He has predicted an “epic fight” between him and Adesanya being inevitable.

    Adesanya has emerged as one of the UFC’s top stars after earning the belt over Whittaker in their first matchup at UFC 243. He has gone on to earn wins over Paulo Costa, Marvin Vettori, and Robert Whittaker in defending his title.

    Meanwhile, Till has lost back-to-back fights to Whittaker and Derek Brunson since moving to middleweight. If he hopes to settle his beef with Adesanya in the Octagon, he’ll need to get back in the win column for his 2022 debut.

    Do you think we’ll see Israel Adesanya vs. Darren Till in 2022?

  • Darren Till Gives Timeline, Preferred Opponent For UFC Return

    UFC middleweight contender Darren Till is looking forward to potentially bouncing back in a big way in 2022 following back-to-back losses.

    Till has been working with rising welterweight star Khamzat Chimaev in Sweden and Las Vegas ahead of his UFC return. The former welterweight title challenger Till has suffered back-to-back losses to former champion Robert Whittaker and Derek Brunson.

    Till has struggled since losing his welterweight title shot against then-champion Tyron Woodley at UFC 228. He’s lost four of his last five fights and is looking to remain in the thick of things in the middleweight division.

    Till recently signed a new deal with the UFC ahead of his 2022 return to the cage. During a recent Fan Q+A ahead of UFC London, Till gave UFC fans an idea as to when he will return to the Octagon.

    “Few months, 2 or 3 months,” Till answered.

    Till was later asked who he would prefer to fight next and didn’t hesitate with his answer.

    “Uriah Hall,” Till proclaimed. “What have I done to deserve all the f**king s**t he’s given me on Twitter? He called me out. I’ve never turned down any fight, John, I came up to middleweight and fought the two best middleweights at the time in Whittaker and Gastelum. If he wants to fight me, I ain’t scared and I want to fight him next.”

    After getting word of Till’s comments, Hall took to Twitter to respond.

    “Ha fuck you too glad I’m on your mind bitch!” Hall said. “Unlike you I’m getting ready for someone who actually fights but you and I know you ain’t never going to fight again pussy.”

    Till and Hall have gone back and forth on social media in recent months, and the animosity between the two of them appears to be legit. Hall will fight André Muniz next month at a UFC Fight Night event after losing to Sean Strickland last July.

    At 29 years old, Till still has plenty of time to get back on track in the UFC. He’s long predicted that he’ll eventually be a UFC champion and he’ll have the chance to prove that claim in 2022.

    What are your predictions for Darren Till in 2022?

  • Darren Till Names UK Fighter Most Likely To Be Next UFC Champion

    UFC middleweight contender Darren Till has named who he believes the next UK fighter to claim UFC gold will be.

    Till is planning a UFC return for later this year after losing back-to-back fights at middleweight. He’s been seen training with rising star Khamzat Chimaev as he plans a potential rise back into the middleweight title picture.

    Till is in London ahead of the UFC’s Fight Night event this weekend, headlined by a heavyweight matchup between Tom Aspinall and Alexander Volkov. During a recent Fan Q+A session, he pointed to the next likely welterweight title challenger to Kamaru Usman as the next British UFC champion.

    “Probably Leon, probably Leon right now,” Till said.

    Edwards has won nine straight fights, including most recently against Nate Diaz at UFC 263. He was supposed to face Jorge Masvidal at UFC 269 before Masvidal pulled out with an injury.

    Till was the headliner of the last UFC London card in early 2019 but went on to lose to Masvidal in a vicious knockout. He and Edwards shared some trash talk ahead of the event before Edwards earned a unanimous decision win over Gunnar Nelson.

    But now, Till and Edwards seem to be cordial with one another and Till has long advocated for a title shot for Edwards. UFC President Dana White recently confirmed that Edwards will fight for the belt later this year.

    Till Names Another Future UFC Champion From The UK

    Paddy Pimblett
    Paddy Pimblett

    Till was also asked about his fellow countryman, Paddy Pimblett, ahead of his lightweight return against Kazula Vargas at UFC London. Till gave his thoughts on when he thinks Pimblett could earn a lightweight title shot.

    “Two years, give or take,” Till answered. “He’s rising fast, he’s only had two fights. He’s killing it!”

    Pimblett passed his first UFC test with flying colors, earning a first-round knockout of Luigi Vendramini in his debut last September. He was one of the biggest additions to the UFC roster in 2021 following a decorated tenure in Cage Warriors.

    While Till isn’t afraid to give credit to his fellow UK fighters, he’s looking to get back on track with his next UFC outing. He’s been a targeted matchup for middleweight champion Israel Adesanya and is looking to get on another streak to earn another title opportunity.

    Do you agree with Darren Till’s predictions?

  • Till: If Brunson Fight Was In The Gym, I’d Have Broken His Skull

    UFC middleweight Darren Till believes he wasn’t himself at UFC Vegas 36, and under different circumstances, he says he’d have laid a beating on Derek Brunson.

    Last September, Till was being pointed at as a potential challenger for reigning 185-pound champion Israel Adesanya down the line. A victory over Brunson in the UFC Vegas 36 headliner was expected to move him to within touching distance of a date with “The Last Stylebender.”

    But spoiling the Englishman’s plans and continuing the unbeaten streak of his blonde iteration, Brunson dominated throughout before securing a third-round submission. While he moved on to face Jared Cannonier in a title eliminator last month, Till has remained on the sidelines since his losing effort inside the UFC Apex.

    But despite appearing to be outclassed on the night, Till believes a clash with Brunson would go very differently under altered circumstances.

    Till: Brunson Felt “So Slow”

    Following the result, Till revealed he entered his fight with Brunson with a torn ACL. While that provided some context behind his lackluster performance, “The Gorilla” has gone into more detail about his mindset and motivation heading into the September event.

    During a recent interview with ESPN MMA’s Brett Okamoto, Till claimed he could barely recognize himself on fight night. Despite insisting the better man had his hand raised, the Liverpudlian believes in a different environment, he’d have left Brunson in a significantly worse state than the veteran left the Octagon in at UFC Vegas 36.

    “It was tough to take, it was real tough to take. I’m not disrespecting Derek in any way, shape, or form. Blonde Derek Brunson was doing the job,” said Till. “But when I was in there with him, I didn’t feel myself and I felt sloppy, but he just felt so slow, even his takedowns and his striking.

    “For me, if this was in the gym, I’d have [MUTED] broke his skull. I know he’s gonna see this and say, ‘No…’ But under different circumstances—I just couldn’t identify myself in there,” continued Till. “But at the same time, maybe, in my opinion, that night Derek was just the better fighter. I always say this, I never try and give excuses… I don’t wanna disrespect Derek. I still wanna give him his props. He beat me fair and square. The better man, the better fighter that night (won). But it was tough for me to take.”

    While Brunson fell short of securing a title shot and is now potentially looking towards retirement after one last Octagon outing, Till is working hard ahead of his comeback. To return to 100% and begin realizing his potential, “The Gorilla” has turned to the help of a fighter on the opposite end of the spectrum when it comes to form.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CacNclPsOrv/

    For the past few weeks, Till has been training alongside Khamzat Chimaev at the Allstar Training center in Stockholm, Sweden. Having found his positivity and motivation again, the 29-year-old is targeting an ascent up the middleweight ladder, starting with a successful rebound later this year.

    Who would you like to see Darren Till face when he returns to the Octagon?

  • Archives: Till Doesn’t Think He’ll Ever Move Past Woodley Defeat (2019)

    The following article was published on this day three years ago. It is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.

    On This Day Three Years Ago…

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED MARCH 13, 2019, 12:32 PM]

    Darren Till suffered the first defeat of his professional mixed martial arts (MMA) career in his last fight. “

    The Gorilla” was submitted in the second round of his UFC welterweight title contest with Tyron Woodley in September. Now, he’s looking to bounce back this weekend (Sat. March 16, 2019) against Jorge Masvidal at UFC London.

    Speaking to MMA Junkie, Till admitted that his loss to Woodley still stings, and he doesn’t think he’ll ever move past it. In fact, he’s realistic that the same thing could happen to him this weekend, and he’s not scared to talk about it:

    “I don’t think I’ll ever move past it,” Till said. “I’m not ashamed to say it still hurts every day if it comes to mind. I’ve watched the fight many times, and it’s just something inside of me. Even if I get the rematch with Woodley and beat him, the first fight will still be a thorn inside of me.

    “I’ve always said that openly, you can’t really go through this life – a normal life or the fighting life – with it all being highs. The lows do come, and I always said that a loss would come. A loss may come again. A loss may happen Saturday. I’m not scared to talk about it because it’s all reality. I am a realist.”

    With a new champion at the helm, the welterweight division is ripe for the picking in regards to big fights. Should Till emerge victorious this weekend with a big showing, he could be right back in line for title contention. However, he needs to get past a hungry Masvidal first.

    “Gamebred” hasn’t won a fight since January of 2017. After back-to-back losses, and not having fought since November of 2017, Masvidal might have to shake off some ring rust before he gets going against a striker the caliber of Till on Saturday.

    Who are you picking for Till vs. Masvidal this weekend?

  • Darren Till: 100% Till Would Get Whittaker Out Of There Quickly

    UFC middleweight contender Darren Till feels he would’ve made quick work of former champion Robert Whittaker had he not torn his MCL.

    Till got off to a fast start against Whittaker in their July 2020 headliner but was unable to keep his momentum for five full rounds. It was later revealed by Till’s coach, Colin Heron, that he suffered a torn MCL during the fight.

    Till has lost four of his last five and has just one win at middleweight, a split-decision victory over Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 244. He made the move from 170 to 185 pounds following back-to-back losses to Tyron Woodley and Jorge Masvidal.

    Till’s middleweight tenure has produced mixed results. After his win over Gastelum, he has lost back-to-back fights to Whittaker and Derek Brunson.

    During a recent interview with ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, Till gave his thoughts on what went wrong in his matchup with Whittaker.

    “The fight before (Brunson), I lost to Whittaker. In my opinion now, Whittaker and Adesanya are the two best middleweights on Earth. I don’t feel like I even gave 50%,” Till said. “God’s honest truth—I’m not trying to disrespect Whittaker. I don’t feel like I was even giving 50% in that fight. I was making him miss, I was relaxed, I was knocking him down. If I came in there 100% Darren Till, I would get Whittaker out of there quite quickly.”

    Till is anticipating a return to the Octagon in 2022 and recently signed a new multi-fight deal with the UFC. He has also been seen training with rising UFC star Khamzat Chimaev in Sweden.

    Despite his recent struggles, Till arguably still has massive potential at middleweight and could challenge for another UFC title someday. If he is victorious in his next bout, a rematch with Whittaker may become a part of the discussion.

    Who do you want Darren Till to fight next?

  • Darren Till Inks New Deal With The UFC Ahead Of 2022 Return

    UFC middleweight contender Darren Till has signed a new contract with the UFC in anticipation of his 2022 return to the Octagon.

    News of the agreement was first reported by ESPN’s Brett Okamoto.

    Till has lost four of his last five with just one lone victory since moving from welterweight to middleweight. He most recently fell to Derek Brunson via third-round submission last September and allegedly entered the fight with a knee injury.

    Till’s last win in the Octagon came against Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 244. He earned a split decision victory in his middleweight debut before back-to-back losses.

    Till has recently trained with rising UFC star Khamzat Chimaev ahead of his 2022 debut. The two of them have been seen going through rigorous workouts together at the Allstars Training Center in Stockholm, SE.

    Darren Till Khamzat Chimaev
    Darren Till Khamzat Chimaev

    Till and Chimaev have also spent their time doing philanthropy work in Sweden, feeding local homeless people and assisting the community around the gym.

    In terms of a timeline for his return to the cage, Till is unsure exactly when he’ll have his next fight booked. He’s gone back-and-forth on social media with the likes of Uriah Hall and others as he works his way back to potential middleweight title contention.

    Till made his FUC Debut back in 2015 against Wendell de Oliveira Marques, earning a second-round knockout. He would go on to earn four straight wins before falling short against Tyron Woodley for the welterweight belt at UFC 228.

    Till would then follow it up with a stunning knockout loss to Jorge Masvidal in early 2019 in London, before making the move up to 185 pounds.

    At 29 years old, Till still has plenty of time to turn things around in his UFC career and pursue another title shot at middleweight. UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya has previously conveyed interest in a fight with Till if he can get on another winning streak.

    Who do you want to see Darren Till fight next?

  • Darren Till and Khamzat Chimaev Help Feed The Homeless In Sweden

    Darren Till and Khamzat Chimaev are helping out the less fortunate.

    Darren Till is looking to improve his fight skills. He has been training in Stockholm, Sweden with Khamzat Chimaev. The two have been posting pictures of themselves together and have quickly become one of the most liked new UFC friendships. Till is known as a bit of a joker on social media and seems happy to be a part of Chimeav’s training crew.

    Recently, Till and Chimaev took their new friendship outside the gym to make a difference in the Stockholm community. The video was posted by FrontkickOnline that shows Till and Chimaev handing out meals to people in need. They handed out food and drinks alongside fellow Swedish fighter Reza Madadi to the people in Stockholm.

    This isn’t the first time Chimaev was seen doing something like this. He likes to help those in need when he can. He was seen giving food to a homeless man when he was in Vegas preparing for his fight against Gerald Meerschaert.

    Both men have been training together at Allstar Training Center in Stockholm. Neither man has a fight on the schedule at the moment, but there have been some talks.

    Chimaev has been rumored to be fighting Gilbert Burns in his next time out but nothing is official at the moment. Chimaev has been eagerly wanting a top-ranked opponent and if the deal with Burns can be done, he would put himself in a great position with a win.

    As for Till, he has had some trouble lately. He has lost two in a row and four of his last five. Till was at one time recently considered the top prospect in the welterweight division and fought for a title. He has since fallen off a bit and began trying his skills at middleweight. He is now ranked eighth at middleweight and could be looking to improve upon this position with the help of Chimaev and the team.

    What do you think of Darren Till and Khamzat Chimaev’s friendship?

  • Darren Till Touts Tom Aspinall As The Next British UFC Champion

    UFC middleweight Darren Till believes compatriot and heavyweight contender Tom Aspinall has what it takes to become the next British champion in the promotion.

    In just two years in the UFC, Aspinall has grown from debutant to headliner and established himself as one of the promotion’s top prospects. After signing off the back of three consecutive finishes, the English powerhouse has not slowed down since arriving on MMA’s biggest stage.

    Following TKO wins against Jake Collier and Alan Baudot, and an impressive submission victory over former champion Andrei Arlovski, Aspinall climbed towards the edge of the divisional top 10 with a vicious stoppage against Sergey Spivak at UFC Vegas 36 last September.

    Having extended his record to 11-2, his active win streak to seven, his unbeaten UFC record to 4-0, and maintained his 100% finishing rate, many are predicting big things in the sport for Aspinall. One of those holding the Manchester native in high regard is teammate Darren Till.

    Having trained alongside Aspinall at Liverpool’s Team Kaobon gym for years, Till has had, and continues to have, a first-hand look at the heavyweight’s progress and development. According to “The Gorilla,” Aspinall is likely to join Michael Bisping in the limited club of British UFC champions.

    “He’s so sharp mate. Honestly, it’s a beauty to watch,” Till told Bisping and Anthony Smith during an appearance on the Believe You Me podcast. “You come in in the mornings and he’s doing his routine pad work with coach Colin, and you see him sparring… Not to discredit any of these guys, but he’s just—I mean, me and Tom don’t really spar each other anymore; we just know each other to a T, but it’s just how fast and quick he is, and his thinking.

    “Honestly, his striking, his whole game, but his striking is just impeccable, it really is; it’s a beauty to watch,” Till added. “I’m very confident that Tom is probably going to be the next British champion before anybody else. He’s just on a roll—his confidence, his humbleness.”

    Till Expects Aspinall To Record A 1st-Round Finish At UFC London

    Despite initially suggesting he’d prefer a slow and steady rise towards the top of the division, Aspinall’s next fight is an opportunity that was too good to turn down.

    On March 19, Aspinall will mark his first Octagon outing in front of a full crowd when he headlines the UFC’s long-awaited return to London, England. In his way of another large step towards the elite at 265 pounds will be former Bellator champion and five-time UFC headliner Alexander Volkov.

    Despite the step-up in competition facing his teammate next month, Till has no doubts about who will get their hand raised at the O2 Arena.

    “Not to discredit Volkov, but I think he’s (Aspinall) gonna finish Volkov in the first round,” Till predicted. “From what I’m seeing, training-wise, he’s so motivated—he’s in every day, he’s training hard, he’s getting pushed by the right people, and I just want him to do well.”

    With a victory over Volkov, Tom Aspinall will join the likes of Ciryl Gane, Stipe Miocic, Curtis Blaydes, Jon Jones, and Tai Tuivasa in the championship conversation. Should the Englishman notch a win against any of those names, a title shot would likely follow soon after.

    Do you agree with Darren Till? Can Tom Aspinall become the UFC heavyweight champion?

  • Darren Till Hopes To Avoid Main Event Booking For Octagon Return

    UFC middleweight contender Darren Till is hoping to avoid the main event spotlight when he returns to the Octagon later this year.

    Since falling short of middleweight gold in 2018, Till has had a tough time in the UFC. In his last five fights, the Liverpudlian has gone 1-4, a record that includes a brutal knockout loss to Jorge Masvidal in his final appearance at welterweight.

    After arriving at 185 pounds with a decision victory over former interim title challenger Kelvin Gastelum, Till was tipped by many to be a future tough test for middleweight champion Israel Adesanya. But after a main event defeat to #1-ranked contender Robert Whittaker, that push for gold was stalled.

    If the setback to “The Reaper” stopped his surge, his next Octagon outing sent him firmly into reverse. Against Derek Brunson in the UFC Vegas 36 headliner last September, “The Gorilla” was dominated throughout and submitted via rear-naked choke in the third round.

    Till Wants To “Get Comfortable Again”

    At the age of 29, and with wins against Gastelum, Stephen Thompson, and Donald Cerrone, Till’s potential is clear. Despite his recent struggles, the Brit hasn’t lost his self-belief and still sees UFC gold in his future. To get that ball rolling again, however, he has to rebound in 2022.

    During a recent appearance on Michael Bisping’s Believe You Me podcast, Till spoke about his return, and admitted he’s looking to avoid another headlining spot when he makes his comeback.

    “I’ve had like, eight or nine main events now, and we’ve got Tom (Aspinall) from Team Kaobon doing Team Kaobon’s 10th (at UFC London), it’s historical, it’s nice stuff,” said Till. “But I would love to just have a three-round fight, just open the main card, and just see what it’s like. Every fight I’ve had since Cowboy has just been main event. I understand the UFC, what they see in me is potential and style, but I would love to just get back in there and fight three rounds and get comfortable again, be Darren Till.

    “I swear to God, years ago, you can speak to my coach, I thought I was fucking indestructible,” added Till. “I used to say I can’t be killed, I can’t be beaten. I know I’ve still got that deep down inside me. I just need to find it again and be comfortable again.”

    The last time Till fought three rounds was in the UFC 244 co-main event in 2019, where he edged past Gastelum on the scorecards. He’ll certainly be looking to re-create that success when he returns to action.

    While talk of a clash with Uriah Hall existed, the veteran’s booking with Andre Muniz means “The Gorilla” will need to look elsewhere for his next rival, or perhaps wait for the victor of that contest. Although according to “Prime Time,” Till isn’t all that keen on the idea of sharing the cage with him.

    With Till’s fiery response to Hall’s recent ducking claims on Twitter, the stage has been set nicely for these two middleweight contenders to settle their differences in the Octagon down the line.

    Who would you like to see Darren Till’s return to the Octagon come against?

  • Update: Extended Footage Of Darren Till Training With Khamzat Chimaev

    Extended footage is now available of UFC middleweight contender Darren Till training alongside rising welterweight star Khamzat Chimaev.

    Following Till’s latest setback in the Octagon, Chimaev, whose form and unbeaten UFC record have set him on the opposite trajectory to the Liverpudlian, invited “The Gorilla” to the Allstar Training Center in Stockholm.

    “If he wanna come to Stockholm, he’s welcome,” Chimaev said during an interview with BT Sport last October. “I told him, ‘I can help with the wrestling or something. We can spar. We can train.’”

    Having accepted the offer weeks later, Till has now made it a reality by journeying to Scandinavia. In a recent post uploaded to Instagram by the #8-ranked middleweight, the sweaty pair can be seen posing for a photo, likely having just completed a session together.

    Now, we have extended footage made public, which you can view in its entirety below.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52te8uUts5Y

    Till Will Hope To Overcome Ground Deficiencies With The Help Of Chimaev

    Chimaev’s initial offer came in the month after Till fell to his fourth defeat in five fights. In the UFC Vegas 36 main event last September, the Liverpudlian hoped to stake his claim for a title shot with a victory over divisional veteran Derek Brunson.

    After being dominated throughout and comfortably controlled on the ground, Till was submitted in the third round. Having subsequently revealed he’d fought through a torn ACL, “The Gorilla” has been on the sidelines ever since, with his comeback expected for later this year.

    If you’re on the hunt for an in-form fighter to train with, and one who’s dominated his opponents on the ground, there aren’t many better options than Chimaev.

    In four UFC outings, “Borz” has ragdolled three of his foes around the cage, submitting two and finishing the other with ground strikes. The one man who was able to avoid Chimaev’s imposing pressure-wrestling game was Gerald Meerschaert. He did so by going to sleep after 17 seconds courtesy of a brutal punch.

    With a rumored clash against Uriah Hall appearing unlikely to be next for Till given the veteran’s recent booking opposite Andre Muniz, we can expect to have some clarity regarding the Englishman’s future and next opponent in the coming months.

    When Till does return, we’ll be able to see if his work with Chimaev has paid off.

    Do you think training with Khamzat Chimaev will help Darren Till ahead of his return to the Octagon?

  • Uriah Hall Goes “Quiet” After Darren Till Responds To “Scared” Comment

    The heated exchange between Darren Till and Uriah Hall continues with the ball in Hall’s court.

    Since last November, Hall has attempted to call out Till. Weeks went by without an answer from the Liverpool native. But now, Till is firing back on social media.

    Recently, Hall accused Till of avoiding a fight with him. The #9 ranked middleweight called Till a few harsh terms and claimed he can easily beat him.

    The accusation of ducking a fight prompted Till to counter on social media.

    “@UriahHallMMA brother brother brother, you just did a interview saying I am scared of you? I jumped up to middleweight and straight off the bat fought 2 of the best middleweights there is in gastelum & Whittaker. I have never turned a fight down at WW or MW,” Darren responds.

    Hall originally wanted Till for his next matchup but will face-off with the submission superstar André Muniz on April 16. So Hall will have to wait longer for his dream match with Till.

    Andre Muniz and Uriah Hall, Photo Credit: Troy Taormina / Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC

    After two vicious defeats at welterweight, Till made the decision to bump up to middleweight. He saw success in his debut with a split-decision win against Kelvin Gastelum.

    However, the success was short-lived as he lost against two of the division’s finest, Robert Whittaker and Derek Brunson.

    It is uncertain why Till has yet to be seen in the Octagon since last September, though his team has revealed that he suffered a knee injury before his fight with Brunson.

    Till might return on the London card in March, but that decision still floats in the air.

    Till agrees with the matchup against Hall, but the timing is off. But as soon as Till is where he wants to be mentally and physically, he is willing to accept Hall as his opponent.

    Till’s response to Hall saying he’s afraid to fight him meets crickets.

    “@UriahHallMMA why you gone so quiet now that I’ve responded to you?” says Till.

    Both fighters are coming off a loss and want to fight each other. The results of April 16 will help determine their future matchups and if these two middleweights can settle their beef in the cage later this year.

    What are your thoughts on a Uriah Hall and Darren Till fight?

  • Uriah Hall Rips ‘Ugly’ Darren Till For Being Too ‘Scared’ To Fight Him

    UFC middleweight Uriah Hall is not happy with Darren Till and is accusing the English UFC star of ducking him for a fight.

    Hall is in the middle of training camp as he works towards his scheduled UFC return at a UFC Fight Night event on April 16. He’s slated to face Andre Muniz, an up-and-coming middleweight who is looking for another signature win on his record.

    But Hall wanted another solidified middleweight for his Octagon return. He targeted a fight with Till on the upcoming UFC London card, but Till allegedly turned down the fight for an undisclosed reason, according to Hall.

    During a recent interview with The Schmo, Hall had some choice words for Till after allegedly passing up a fight with him.

    “I mean to be honest, it’s not something that I wanted,” Hall said of the Muniz matchup. “I wanted Darren Till but he’s being a punk a** b**ch, and I don’t know what happened. He’s just playing the UFC or whatnot, but he’s one that makes sense. I wanted him, but I think he’s just scared. I think he’s really scared. Either that or he’s injured or some s**t, he’s always making excuses. He talks smack but I know when he stands in front of me he’s going to be quiet. I just know I can beat him. He’s short, he sucks, he’s ugly. I just know I can kick his a**.”

    Hall has won four of his last five fights but is coming off of a unanimous decision loss to Sean Strickland last July. Before that, he had earned a TKO win after Chris Weidman snapped his leg just seconds into the fight at UFC 261.

    Till has lost four of his last five against some of the best talents in the UFC, including most recently against Derek Brunson and Robert Whittaker. His lone win since moving to middleweight came against Kelvin Gastelum via split decision at UFC 244.

    Hall and Till have gone at each other in recent months. Hall called out Till on social media before Till called him an “ugly motherf**ker” in an interview with Ariel Helwani. Hall’s description of Till’s physical attributes indicates that the feeling is mutual.

    It’s unclear when Till is slated to return after allegedly suffering a knee injury in the lead-up to his last fight. But Hall seems to be a willing opponent, depending on what happens with his fight against Muniz.

    What do you make of Uriah Hall’s comments regarding Darren Till?

  • André Muniz Targets Till Clash In England Or Ranked Opponent In Brazil

    UFC middleweight contender André Muniz has pitched two potential locations and opponents for his first Octagon appearance of 2022.

    Muniz has quickly developed into one of the most promising rising 185lbers and one of the most dangerous men in the UFC on the ground. “Sergipano,” a 3rd-degree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Otávio Duarte, is 4-0 on MMA’s biggest stage, a record that includes three armbar submissions.

    After back-to-back wins on Dana White’s Contender Series, Muniz earned an opportunity in the UFC, one that he has grabbed with both hands; hands that are capable of some terrifying things when they get hold of a limb.

    After starting on the right track with a decision triumph against Antônio Arroyo and showcasing his submission skills in the UFC for the first time in his victory against Bartosz Fabiński, the Brazilian went from prospect to serious contender in his third appearance.

    Muniz was matched up with the legendary Ronaldo “Jacaré” Souza, regarded as one of the best submission grapplers in the promotion’s history, at UFC 262 last May. In an incredible performance, Muniz sunk in a unique armbar in the opening round, one that brutally (and audibly) snapped the arm of his compatriot.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CYO2HXmoZP3/

    Muniz Targets Home Crowd Or Hostile Crowd

    After a clash against fellow rising middleweight Dricus Du Plessis fell through, Muniz secured his second win of 2021 at UFC 269 against 13-fight promotional veteran Eryk Anders. How did he do it? You guessed it, with an armbar.

    Ranked #13 at 185 pounds, Muniz will be hoping to break into the top 10 in 2022 and maybe even stake his claim for a shot at divisional gold. With that in mind, he knows what he wants from the UFC next.

    “I hope that now, with these submissions (against Souza and Anders), that the UFC will give me a top 10 or even a top five (opponent),” Muniz told MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn. “I’d like to end the year in a top-five position. Maybe Darren Till.”

    Muniz went on to suggest he’s hoping for a clash with “The Gorilla” in the Liverpudlian’s home country. The UFC is reportedly targeting the March 19 card as its return to London, England. While a host of European names and UK stars have had matchups booked for that date, it still lacks a main event. Perhaps the promotion will go down the Muniz vs. Till route.

    If that doesn’t come to fruition, Muniz has his sights ready to divert to another international venture for the UFC, this time to his own home nation. Reports suggest the promotion is targeting a return to Brazil for a pay-per-view on May 7. Muniz said it would be “amazing” to fight in Rio de Janeiro against an opponent ranked higher than him. He named top-10 stalwart Uriah Hall as a potential foe.

    “If I can’t hook them to put me against Darren Till in England, it would be great, it would be amazing to fight in Rio(de Janeiro) against somebody ranked ahead of me. Who knows, maybe a Uriah Hall or somebody like that. That would be amazing.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CO6pMwKlVDP/

    Some fighters get excited by the prospect of a delivering a winning-performance in front of their home crowd and making the walk to the Octagon with fanfare and cheers. Others relish in the chance to spoil a homecoming in an opponent’s backyard and walk to the cage amidst a chorus of boos.

    Muniz’s 2022 targets are ambidextrous in that regard…

    Would you rather see André Muniz face Darren Till in England or a high-ranked opponent like Uriah Hall in Brazil?

  • Darren Till Gives Reminders To Those Who Complain About Fighter Pay

    Darren Till is giving the other fighters of the UFC a little financial lesson.

    Darren Till is an outspoken guy. He is loud, and his candidness has earned him many fans. Till’s latest rant is about fighter pay.

    This topic has been trending lately after many fighters on the UFC roster have been asking for more bonuses and better pay. For Till, he thinks the fighters are getting plenty and stated a few facts he thinks compensates for the contracts fighters receive. (h/t Pundit Arena)

    “People seem to forget that we’ve got a 20 million dollar facility there open for all UFC fighters with food, with nutrition, with strength training, with anything you want,” Till told The MMA Hour. “If you want to sleep there I’m pretty sure you could and I stayed there for three months and I was treated like a god by the UFC team, Dana and Hunter.”

    Some former UFC fighters have been saying that they are making more money outside the UFC than there were while they were under contract with the organization. Other newer UFC fighters are begging for performance bonuses whenever they can.

    Even the biggest names such as Jon Jones and Francis Ngannou have been through contract negotiation disagreements with the UFC brass this year. Outsider Jake Paul has been one of the biggest advocates for MMA fighter pay discrepancies.

    “Obviously, there’s flaws in this game for fighters but before you get on and start criticizing the UFC or whatever, just remember what you’ve got at your feet,” Till explained.

    The UFC performance institutes are there in order to help the UFC fighters under contract live their best lives. The locations in Las Vegas and China are meant to help fighters negotiate weight cuts, receive bodywork, and nutrition. Till feels that the luxuries and accommodations at these institutes are making up for any perceived lack of pay per fight.

    What do you think of Darren Till’s stance on fighter pay?

  • Flashback To Mike Perry’s Christmas Wish To Darren Till In 2017

    Mike Perry’s and Darren Till’s desire to fight one another went back four years until those plans suffered a likely fatal blow in 2021 when Perry parted ways with the UFC.

    The year was 2017. Mike Perry and Darren Till had a combined UFC record of 8-1 entering the month of December, and the two men’s fan bases were continuing to grow.

    What was also growing in popularity was the idea of the two welterweights fighting one another. As much as many fans wanted to see the fight, it was Perry and Till who have always lobbied for it the hardest.

    Perry and Till’s banter would continue for years, and the two constantly flirted with fighting one another. During the Christmas season in 2018, Perry was coming off a loss to Santiago Ponzinibbio while Till defeated Donald Cerrone earlier that year.

    Despite their most recent outcomes at the time, Perry decided to shoot his shot with the following Christmas wish and birthday message.

    “#HappyBirthday @darrentill2 and #MerryChristmas, for a gift I’d like to give you a contract with my name on it,” Perry wrote to Till on Twitter this Christmas Eve, which was also the Liverpudlian’s 24th birthday. “We’ll make it happen. Until then don’t lose that 0 and remember nobody wants to stand and fight you like I do,” Perry posted on Christmas Eve 2017.

    With no fight planned for Till at the time following his victory over Cerrone on the headlining bout of UFC Fight Night 118 in Poland, Perry looked set to square off with the Brit. Having slipped to a unanimous decision defeat to Ponzinibbio at UFC on FOX 26, “Platinum” could be forgiven for believing that he may have lost out on that bout.

    Till, however, offered some very encouraging words in his response to Perry, which was music to the ears of the then-26-year-old Perry:

    “Thanks for the well wishes… same to you!! The 0 is staying don’t worry about that… and yes I’ll sign it! Let’s go to f**king war if that’s what you want! Rankings and losses mean f**k all to me!!! 

    Since this exchange took place, the combined record of Till and Perry went on to be 5-10. Today, Till no longer competes in the UFC’s welterweight division, and Perry no longer competes in the UFC at all and recently signed with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.

    Unless Mike Perry makes his UFC return someday or he and Till finally compete against one another in a Triller event in the distant future, then this is one Christmas wish that will likely go down as unfulfilled.

    Is Darren Till vs. Mike Perry the Christmas gift that got away for MMA fans, or were you among those who were uninterested in this fight taking place?

  • Darren Till Loves Covington’s ‘Act’ Because It ‘Upsets So Many People’

    While many do not like the schtick of Colby Covington, Darren Till does not feel the same.

    Till is known for having an off-kilter sense of humor, which has gotten him into trouble on more than one occasion. Covington is not too dissimilar to that, with his outlandish behavior dividing MMA fans around the world, leaving some to criticize his comments and others embracing the schtick.

    Speaking on Michael Bisping’s Believe You Me podcast, Till explained that he fell into the latter category, enjoying the way Covington acts. Although, it is not just because he finds it funny. He also enjoys the way that the top welterweight contender is able to get under people’s skins and offend them in ways that he aspires to himself.

    “I mean, I love Colby, I love his act, I love his fighting style. Striker-wise, I don’t think he’s the best striker, but I think he’s a phenomenal fighter. I’m a fan… I see past all the act and everything and you know what, mate? I f*cking think it’s absolutely hilarious. You know why? Because it’s upsets so many people and I just think, ‘Wow,’” Till said (h/t LowKickMMA).

    It goes without saying that a lot of people do not share the same ideology as Darren Till when it comes to the schtick of Colby Covington. To be fair to those concerns, he has said some things that are, at best, a little risqué; and at worst, crossing lines that some feel should not be crossed in a competitive format.

    Love him like Till or hate him like Jorge Masvidal and many others, there is simply no denying the skills that Covington possesses. Considering the fact that he is the only person to come anywhere near beating welterweight champion Kamaru Usman in the UFC, on two different occasions no less, makes him one of the best 170lb fighters in the world, regardless of the things he says.

    Check out the full video with Darren Till below:

    https://youtu.be/-JxiXQsHk-E

  • Darren Till: Oliveira Would Beat Any LW In The World, Including Khabib

    Darren Till believes Charles Oliveira would beat Khabib Nurmagomedov after he cemented himself as the UFC’s top lightweight on Saturday night.

    In the main event of UFC 269, Oliveira defended his lightweight strap for the first time as he submitted Dustin Poirier in the third round. In the lead-up to the fight, many claimed Poirier was the real lightweight champ after the Brazilian won the vacant title by knocking out Michael Chandler.

    Yet, Oliveira proved just how good he is as he was showed off his durable and then submitted Poirier to defend his belt. The victory extended his winning streak to 10 fights. For Darren Till, he believes Oliveira is the best lightweight and would beat Nurmagomedov.

    “I know what I possess inside me. I know why all these people believe in me and why I should believe in myself, because of how f*cking good I know I am,” Till said to MMAFighting. “That’s all it is, a few little tweaks and a few little adjustments and I’m right back there. Trust me, I’ll be right back there breaking records and beating all the best. To take example by Charles Oliveira, look again at the weekend.

    Charles Oliveira finishes Dustin Poirier with standing rear-naked choke to retain lightweight title in UFC 269 main event - MMA Fighting
    Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

    “He was the underdog going into the fight, and you can ask any c**t, I love Dustin Poirier, I’ve known the guy for years, he’s a great guy,” Till continued. “But anyone who asked me, I would say, ‘Oliveira’s gonna win the fight.’ I tell you mate, he’s the best lightweight on the planet right now, including Khabib. He’s the best lightweight on the planet, trust me.”

    Although Darren Till believes Charles Oliveira is better than Khabib Nurmagomedov, unfortunately, at this time it won’t ever be proven. “The Eagle” is retired and it seems certain he won’t ever come back again. However, if Oliveira continues to win, there is no question that Till won’t be the only fighter to think “Do Bronx” would beat Nurmagomedov.

    Do you think Charles Oliveira would beat Khabib Nurmagomedov?

  • Darren Till Admits Interest In Facing “Ugly Motherf*cker” Uriah Hall

    After being called out by Uriah Hall multiple times, UFC middleweight contender Darren Till has admitted he’s interested in a fight with “Prime Time.”

    Till was last in action at UFC Vegas 36 in September. After going 1-1 at middleweight with a debut win against Kelvin Gastelum and a main event decision setback to former champion Robert Whittaker, “The Gorilla” hoped to stake his claim for a title shot against divisional veteran Derek Brunson.

    Instead, Till fell to his fourth defeat in five fights, and did so in devastating fashion. Inside Las Vegas’ Apex, the Englishman was dominated by Brunson, who’s firmly escaped gatekeeper status and become a genuine contender. He seemingly secured his place in a title eliminator against Jared Cannonier by submitting Till in the third round.

    Till Looks To Bounce Back in 2022

    Once considered a sure-fire future welterweight champion, defeats to Tyron Woodley and Jorge Masvidal saw Till pursue success at middleweight instead. Now with consecutive losses at 185 pounds, the future is uncertain for the Liverpool native. Nevertheless, “The Gorilla” hasn’t lost confidence and believes he’ll bounce back in his next appearance.

    While his opponent is yet to be decided, top-10 middleweight veteran Uriah Hall has made his desire to challenge Till clear on social media. The Jamaican-born American saw his own chance to break into the title conversation slip away earlier this year when Sean Strickland snapped his four-fight win streak in the UFC Vegas 33 main event.

    During a recent appearance on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour, Till addressed the rumors surrounding his return. The 29-year-old suggested he could feature on the March UFC Fight Night Event that is expected to take place in London. He also acknowledged Hall’s callouts, admitting the idea of facing the #9-ranked “Prime Time” is interesting to him.

    “There’s a massive chance… There’s a big chance I’ll be fighting in London. We’ll see what happens with it and who it’s against. I know Uriah called me out. Let’s just see mate. I can’t say too much… Yeah, I’m interested (in facing Hall). I think he’s a good fighter. I think he’s an ugly motherfucker, but he’s not a bad fighter. Whatever, let’s see mate. I’ve got options.”

    If the bout does get booked to headline the March 19 card in London, Till will be joining a host of other British fighters on the card. That includes Jack Shore, Mike Grundy, Molly McCann, and the debuting Muhammad Mokaev.

    Would you like to see Darren Till and Uriah Hall headline the UFC’s return to London?

  • Darren Till Sends Message To Troubled Youth After Recent UK Stabbing

    UFC middleweight contender Darren Till sent a powerful message to troubled youth in his community in light of a recent tragedy in Liverpool.

    Professional athletes often take the opportunity to use their platforms to improve their locale, and Till is no different. Nine years after suffering a brutal stabbing, he took the time to encourage children to turn to outlets such as MMA instead of a life of crime.

    “9 years ago today I was stabbed twice in the back of my ribs,” Till posted on Instagram. “The great city of Liverpool has recently been shook up by the tragic death of the young and beautiful Ava White. Put down the knives, kids and ask ur mums and dads to take you or take yourselves down to the local gyms. Best thing you will ever do is step foot into a gym with a nice healthy environment and a good mentor in and out of the gym. You won’t regret it.”

    Darren Till Continues To Inspire Others In His Hometown

    Till has become quite the fan-favorite since making his UFC debut back in 2015. He’s well-known for his comedic social media presence but also takes the time to engage with his fans and leave an impact in his community.

    Hundreds of Liverpool residents gathered in the city this weekend for a vigil for stabbing victim Ava White, a 12-year-old schoolgirl. The investigation into the tragic incident is ongoing.

    Till is looking to get back in the win column in the Octagon after losing four of his last five fights overall. He most recently fell to Derek Brunson at UFC Vegas 36 by submission, later alleging that he had suffered a devastating knee injury just weeks before the fight.

    It’s unclear as to when Till will return to fighting as he continues to get his health in order, but he’s currently using the time off to make a positive impact in his city.

    What are your thoughts on Darren Till’s comments?