Darren Till, the former UFC title challenger, made his second ring appearance of the year, securing a hard-fought victory over fellow UFC veteran Darren Stewart.
Following his emphatic knockout win in his Misfits Boxing debut against Anthony Taylor, anticipation was high for Till`s return. His initial booking as co-main event for the cancelled KSI vs. Dillon Danis card in Manchester caused a delay.
However, Till was promptly moved to the main event of Friday night`s Misfits 21 card in Derby, England, where he faced off against Darren Stewart, a former contender in both UFC and Cage Warriors.
Fight Recap: Till vs. Stewart
Fighting in front of a modest crowd of around 1,600 at the Valiant Live Arena in Derby, Till made his way to the ring after witnessing local fighter Ty Mitchell`s dominant win in the co-main event.
In the opening round, Till allowed Stewart, based in London, to press forward, countering effectively. Within the first minute and a half, Till landed a significant left hand that sent Stewart to the canvas. Stewart, primarily known for his grappling pedigree, struggled to find his rhythm early on.
Till appeared largely in control, consistently landing shots against an opponent who found it difficult to close the distance or initiate clinches effectively. Even when Stewart managed to get inside, he was frequently met with the same counter left hook.
`The Dentist` demonstrated resilience, recovering well from Till`s power shots. The third round saw Stewart find more success getting inside and landing his right hand, though much of this seemed focused on slowing Till down and avoiding bigger punches.
By the sixth round, Stewart was landing his own punches with more regularity, accumulating points. While his offense might not have been enough to definitively swing the fight, it was clear the former Cage Warriors standout was actively seeking a victory.
As Till showed signs of tiring, his strategy of fighting off the ropes became harder to sustain, allowing Stewart to land numerous scoring shots. Just as it seemed Stewart might be doing enough to potentially win a close decision, Till unleashed a vicious final blow, dropping Stewart right as the bell rang, securing the victory.
What`s Next for Darren Till?
After two Misfits `tune-up` fights and a brief exhibition last year, Darren Till is now eyeing more significant challenges. He has publicly called out names like KSI, Jake Paul, and Mike Perry, and maintains an ongoing rivalry with Tommy Fury.
However, Till also remains a prominent figure in the mixed martial arts world, having given current UFC champion Dricus Du Plessis a tough fight in 2022. He has expressed interest in potentially competing under the PFL banner, though a return to the UFC is also widely anticipated once his current boxing ventures conclude.
A planned fight between Till and Tommy Fury earlier this year was cancelled when Fury withdrew with three weeks` notice. Fury cited concerns over Till`s threats during press conferences to illegally kick him in the head.