Former UFC star Darren Till has revealed the four names he intends to face in the boxing ring before potentially returning to mixed martial arts with the goal of pursuing a world title.
While his win-loss record wasn`t outstanding in his final years with the UFC, the fighter from Liverpool consistently competed at the highest level in both the middleweight and welterweight divisions. His last appearance was an exciting, back-and-forth contest against Dricus Du Plessis. Till was arguably performing well in the fight before eventually succumbing to a submission in the third round.
That fight`s outcome is notable as Du Plessis has since gone on to become the seemingly unstoppable UFC middleweight champion, boasting impressive victories over notable fighters such as Israel Adesanya, Robert Whittaker, and Sean Strickland. Following his bout with Du Plessis, Till made the decision to leave the UFC and is now focusing on finding success in boxing. He recently headlined a Misfits Boxing event in Derby.
Darren Till`s Boxing Target List
Darren Till finally made his debut in the main event for Misfits Boxing at the Co-Op Live in Manchester back in January. However, the event didn`t go exactly as planned initially, as his scheduled opponent, Tommy Fury, withdrew from the fight due to concerns that Till might use a head kick if he felt he was losing.
Till instead faced Bellator veteran Anthony Taylor, whom he defeated via stoppage in the sixth round to secure his first boxing win. He is now preparing to face former UFC fighter Darren Stewart in the main event of Misfits 21. Their meeting was initially planned for March on the undercard of KSI vs Dillon Danis but was cancelled.
Following this upcoming match, Till plans to set his sights on some of the bigger names in the crossover boxing scene. In a recent interview, he stated clearly the four fighters he has in mind: “I think it comes down to Jake Paul, Tommy Fury, KSI and Mike Perry for me.”
Explaining his selections, Till added, “I think I’d love to fight Jake and KSI, those are big money fights. I’d love the Tommy fight after what he’s done and I think the Mike Perry fight then and I’d probably go off…” He indicated that his next steps in MMA would likely depend on circumstances and potential opportunities in promotions like the PFL, or if the UFC were interested in his return.
Eyeing a UFC Return After His Boxing Endeavors
Darren Till has been upfront about his intention to return to mixed martial arts competition once his current focus on boxing is complete. He has acknowledged that issues with his knees and a decline in motivation affected him during the latter part of his previous MMA career. However, after taking a significant break, he seemed revitalized during his knockout victory over Taylor.
Reflecting on his condition, he said, “I’m not too old in the sport, my body’s not broken even though I’ve obviously had trouble with my knees but I’m fresh. I don’t feel like I have any case of that CTE, I pronounce my words properly, I’ve got a solid brain on myself even though I know I say some mad things sometimes.”
Addressing his public persona and health concerns, he commented, “That’s just public persona, obviously I’m a mad c— but I don’t think I have any early signs of CTE, or I hope not. So I might go back [to MMA].”
In addition to potential interest from the UFC, Till has also held discussions with the Professional Fighters League (PFL). He expressed positive feelings about their organization and is open to the possibility of competing in their Smart Cage against some of their prominent fighters. He noted, “I’ve spoke to the PFL and I like the way they do their organization. I would actually love a bash at it.” He recognized that joining the PFL might impact his chances of returning to the UFC later but believes he still has several good years left in his fighting career.
Darren Till is scheduled to fight Darren Stewart in the main event of Misfits & DAZN X-Series 21 on Friday May 16.