Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
I know all the cool kids think Nate Diaz is the realist in the game, but I’m giving that nod to middleweight bruiser Darren Till, who made his successful 185-pound debut against Kelvin Gastelum at the UFC 244 pay-per-view (PPV) event last Sat. night in New York.
That’s because “The Gorilla” will give you both the good and the bad, regardless of public perception, when it comes to his combat sports career. That includes his post-fight revelation at the UFC 244 post-fight press conference (watch it).
“I was trying to fake an injury before walking out. I was thinking of an injury to fake because I just simply did not want to get in there,” Till said after his split-decision win (via MMA Junkie). “Every fight, no matter what any fighter will ever tell you, they will be scared,. If they tell you they’re not, it’s a blatant lie.”
Till had plenty of reasons to be afraid. Aside from competing in front of a packed house in “The Empire State” with U.S. President Donald Trump in attendance, “The Gorilla” was coming off a savage knockout loss to Jorge Masvidal his last time out.
“I was terrified. I wasn’t shaking, but I just didn’t want to go. This is probably a thing fighters don’t talk about,” he said. “But you know me and I’m honest. That’s just where I was at. Now, I’m here. Confidence is back. Like fuck all these middleweights. I’m coming for everything. It’s back.”
Till improved to 18-2-1 with the win and will likely debut in the official middleweight rankings later this week. The victory should also leave him in the championship title picture and looking at a Top 10 opponent for early 2020.
For more results and coverage from UFC 244 click here.