Darren Till is a British professional mixed martial artist known for his time in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He competed in both the Welterweight and Middleweight divisions, even challenging Tyron Woodley for the Welterweight Championship in September 2018. Though he lost the title fight via submission, Till remained a prominent figure in the UFC. He's also known for his previous kickboxing background. While details about his career beyond November 2023 are unknown, his impact on the sport during his active years is undeniable.
December 1992: Birth of Darren Till
Darren Till was born in Liverpool in December 1992.
August 2012: Stabbing Incident
In August 2012, Till was stabbed twice in the back during an altercation. The knife narrowly missed a main artery.
February 2013: Professional MMA Debut
Darren Till turned professional in MMA in February 2013.
2014: Move to Welterweight
In late 2014, Till transitioned to competing in the welterweight division.
May 2015: UFC Debut
Till made his UFC debut on short notice at UFC Fight Night 67 on May 30, 2015, knocking out Wendell de Oliveira Marques.
October 2015: Fight with Nicolas Dalby
Till fought Nicolas Dalby to a majority draw at UFC Fight Night 76 in October 2015, earning Fight of the Night honors.
2016: Return to England
Till returned to England in late 2016 to rejoin Team Kaobon.
May 2017: Return to UFC
Till returned to the UFC after an extended absence due to injury and personal issues, defeating Jessin Ayari in May 2017 despite missing weight.
August 2017: New UFC Contract
Till signed a new five-fight deal with the UFC in August 2017.
September 2017: Victory over Bojan Veličković
Till defeated Bojan Veličković by unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night 115 in September 2017.
October 2017: Victory over Donald Cerrone
Till defeated Donald Cerrone via TKO in the first round at UFC Fight Night 118 in October 2017, earning a Performance of the Night bonus.
May 2018: Controversial Win over Stephen Thompson
Till won a controversial unanimous decision against Stephen Thompson at UFC Fight Night 130 in May 2018, missing weight significantly beforehand.
September 2018: Loss to Tyron Woodley
Till lost to Tyron Woodley via submission at UFC 228 in September 2018, marking his first professional MMA loss.
September 2018: UFC Welterweight Championship Challenge
In September 2018, Darren Till challenged Tyron Woodley for the UFC Welterweight Championship.
2018: Separation from Daughter
By 2018, Till revealed he hadn't seen his daughter, who remained in Brazil, for over a year.
March 2019: Loss to Jorge Masvidal
In March 2019, Till lost to Jorge Masvidal by knockout at UFC Fight Night 147, earning Fight of the Night.
April 2019: Arrest and Sentencing in Tenerife
In April 2019, Darren Till was arrested in Tenerife for damaging a hotel room and stealing a taxi. He and four others were fined approximately £10,000.
July 2020: Loss to Robert Whittaker
Till lost to Robert Whittaker via unanimous decision at UFC on ESPN: Whittaker vs. Till in July 2020.
December 2020: Withdrawal Due to Injury
Till withdrew from a scheduled fight against Jack Hermansson in December 2020 due to an injury.
April 2021: Withdrawal from Fight
Till withdrew from a scheduled fight against Marvin Vettori in April 2021 due to a broken collarbone.
September 2021: Loss to Derek Brunson
Till lost to Derek Brunson by submission in September 2021 at UFC Fight Night: Brunson vs. Till.
July 2022: DUI Charge in Sweden
In July 2022, Darren Till was penalized by Swedish police for driving under the influence of alcohol, exceeding the legal limit by over three times.
July 2022: Withdrawal from Fight
Till withdrew from a bout against Jack Hermansson at UFC Fight Night 208 in July 2022 due to an undisclosed injury.
December 2022: Loss to Dricus du Plessis, Fight of the Night
Till lost to Dricus du Plessis at UFC 282 in December 2022 by submission but earned Fight of the Night.
February 2023: Release from UFC
Till was released from the UFC in February 2023 after requesting to be let go.
June 2023: Court Appearance in Liverpool
In June 2023, Darren Till appeared in court in Liverpool, pleading not guilty to driving while disqualified, driving without insurance, and obstructing a constable. He was granted bail and returned to court on August 30th.