Photo by Pat Scaasi/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
“Let’s do middle, let’s do welter—let’s do every f*cking weight because at the end of the day I’m really not scared of any man.”
It’s all but confirmed that Darren Till’s next fight will be contested at middleweight but, speaking to MMA Fighting’s Peter Carroll on a recent episode of Eurobash, the former UFC welterweight title challenger said he is open to fighting at any weight.
“I haven’t thought about it much,” Till said. “Let’s do middle, let’s do welter—let’s do every f*cking weight because at the end of the day I’m really not scared of any man.”
Till, 26, has only lost to the divisional elite, dropping losses to former welterweight champ Tyron Woodley and ex-bare knuckle street fighter Jorge Masvidal and, although the losses sting, ‘The Gorilla’ knows that the only way to improve is to continue testing himself against the very best.
“It’s just good to fight all these top-level guys whether they’re in the welterweight division, middleweight or wherever. There’s not one slouch inside that UFC Octagon; they’re all top-level fighters. For me, it’s not about a fresh start, it’s about fighting these unbelievable guys and being one of those unbelievable guys, getting all the challenges every fight until the day I retire when I’m 35.”
Till, who has failed to make weight in the past, admits that a move up to middleweight will be much easier on his mind and body.
“It would be more like relaxation for my head because I wouldn’t have to worry about the weight; the weight cut won’t be as big because there would be a few less kilos to cut, which I think would be a big weight off my mind. Nothing is set in stone yet, so we’ll see where the end of this year leads me,” he said.
Till is rumored to fight top-five middleweight contender Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 244 on Nov. 2. The highly anticipated PPV, which is expected to feature a headlining welterweight title bout between Kamaru Usman and Kelvin Gastelum, will take place at Madison Square Garden in New York City.