Former UFC fighter Darren Till is set to make his highly anticipated debut in bare-knuckle boxing. He has signed a multi-fight deal with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) and will compete in his first bout at BKFC 90 on May 30th at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham, England.
Till, known as “The Gorilla,” confirmed in an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show that his opponent will be influencer boxer and former Bellator fighter Aaron Chalmers. The event is scheduled for May 30th.
The former UFC welterweight title challenger most recently secured a third-round knockout victory over Luke Rockhold at Misfits 22, claiming the promotion’s bridgerweight title. Till, 33, also holds recent wins against Anthony Taylor and Darren Stewart under the Misfits banner and boasts a professional MMA record of 18 wins, 5 losses, and 1 draw, including a 6-5-1 record in the UFC.
Aaron Chalmers, 38, has competed twice in bare-knuckle boxing, with a third-round knockout win over Chas Symonds at BKFC 72 and a second-round stoppage of Jack Fincham at BKFC 81. Chalmers is also known for his exhibition bout against boxing legend Floyd Mayweather in February 2023, which ended in a draw. He had a professional MMA record of 2 wins and 2 losses during his time with Bellator MMA.
Darren Till Discusses Motivation for Joining BKFC
In his interview with Ariel Helwani, Darren Till explained his decision to sign with BKFC. He stated that while he had found success with Misfits Boxing, a lucrative and irresistible offer from BKFC led to his move. Till expressed excitement about the challenging nature of bare-knuckle boxing, describing its competitors as gritty, hard-punching individuals who require a different mindset.