Darren Till’s ascent to a UFC title fight included a gritty win over a former title challenger.
Former UFC star Darren Till‘s rise in the promotion’s 170 lb division was among the most exciting runs in UFC welterweight history. On his way to a showdown with then-champion Tyron Woodley, Till passed many stiff tests, including a win over UFC Hall of Famer Donald Cerrone.
After a 17-fight unbeaten streak to begin his professional MMA career, the UFC handsomely rewarded Till with a main event showdown against Stephen Thompson in Liverpool. It was a massive homecoming for Till as he fought for the chance to become the UFC welterweight division’s No. 1 contender.
Despite being under the bright lights in his hometown, Till seized on the opportunity in a five-round war with Thompson.
Darren Till reflects on the seventh anniversary of UFC win over Stephen Thompson
Till and Thompson clashed in a back-and-forth battle for five rounds, with Till showcasing elite Muay Thai that left the karate specialist Thompson bewildered as the fight played out. Till entered the Octagon with a diverse attack, featuring oblique kicks and nasty body work.
While the fight was close on the scorecards, Till walked away with a unanimous decision victory to secure the No. 1 contender spot. The Liverpool crowd went wild as their native son inched closer to a shot at a UFC world championship.
Seven years later, Till is out of the UFC and remains active in boxing, but he recently took to social media to celebrate the anniversary of arguably his biggest UFC victory.
In a recent post on X, Till reflected on the Thompson fight.
“7 years ago today one of the proudest moments of my life. Walking out to a sold out Echo Arena Liverpool to fight for the number 1 contender spot in the UFC against one of the best strikers at the time, Stephen (Wonderboy) Thompson,” Till posted.
“I’ll never forget this day & I know I’ll have many more the same to come.”
As for Thompson, he hasn’t fought since a knockout loss to Joaquin Buckley at UFC 307 in October. After repeatedly teasing retirement from MMA, a timeline for Thompson’s potential return to the UFC Octagon remains uncertain.
Till went on to challenge Woodley in the UFC 228 main event, losing by second-round submission. The UK star went on to lose five of his last six UFC fights before parting ways with the promotion in 2023.
Despite his MMA career reaching a dead end, Till remains active in boxing, recently defeating former UFC fighter Darren Stewart by unanimous decision in Misfits Boxing. Till knocked out Anthony Taylor in his pro boxing debut in January.
Darren Till and Mike Perry continue to tease a potential fight after years-long feud
As Till ponders what’s next in his combat sports future, a potential showdown with Mike Perry remains in the mix. The two have traded barbs for years, stemming from their post-fight altercation at UFC Gdansk in 2017.
Perry has repeatedly accused Till of declining several lucrative offers to settle their beef in the bare-knuckle ring, to which Till firmly denies. Perry hasn’t fought since a boxing loss to Jake Paul last year.
Amidst uncertainty regarding Till and Perry’s next fights, a long-awaited showdown could come to fruition later this year.