Can Darren Till check out with the UFC Welterweight title?
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Liverpool fighter goes up against Tyron Woodley
Darren Till has been given the opportunity to become Merseyside’s first UFC champion.
The 25-year-old will face currently welterweight champion Tyron Woodley at UFC 228 in Dallas, Texas.
Interim champion Colby Covington was due to fight Woodley. But the Florida native is out of action until late September.
That’s presented Till – recent conqueror of Stephen Thompson – with an opportunity he’s craved. The Coral News Team examines his credentials ahead of a huge clash.
Proven pedigree
At UFC Liverpool, Till had one huge question to answer – could he cut the mustard against the organisation’s elite fighters? And he answered with aplomb.
He won in a unanimous decision against Thompson – one of the UFC’s best welterweight/lightweight fighters. And someone who’s taken Woodley close on two previous occasions.
In addition, Till also has the marketability to sell numbers in the UFC. And that’s incredibly important in the modern fight landscape.
Championship rounds
Although it wasn’t a title match against Thompson, the fight was scheduled for – and went – the full five rounds.
And that sort of experience will be vital to Till who had never been beyond three before in the UFC. Like any five-round fight, there will be moments where a fighter will look gassed. But Till was still going strong in the final five minutes of the bout.
And that will be a worry for Woodley. Because if he thought his gas tank would be a weakness, he’ll now have to recalibrate.
Artillery
There’s no doubt that Woodley is a dominant UFC champion. He’s been the belt-holder since 2016 and defended it three times – twice against Thompson, and once against Demian Maia.
But Woodley isn’t the flashiest of fighters and Dana White isn’t his biggest fan. The explosive Till could be the opponent Woodley needs.
However, the Englishman also has the necessary artillery to win the belt from him, too. At 36-years-old, Till is 11 years his junior. And, importantly, the Merseyside man has got that hunger for success.
It’s going to be a huge night for Till, and a huge night for British MMA.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
