Darren Till has signed a multi-fight agreement with Bare Knuckle FC. His debut is scheduled for a May 30 event in Birmingham, England. The opponent for Till's first bare-knuckle bout has not yet been announced. This marks a significant career shift for the former UFC title contender, who is transitioning from mixed martial arts to bare-knuckle boxing. Additional details about the contract terms were not disclosed.
Darren Till has signed a multi-fight deal with Bare Knuckle FC, with his promotional debut set for May 30 in Birmingham, England. No opponent has been named yet for the Liverpudlian's first bare-knuckle contest.
Till, 33, built his reputation as one of the most dangerous strikers in UFC welterweight and middleweight competition, compiling an 18-5-1 record across his mixed martial arts career. Fighting out of the Astra Fight Team, the southpaw stands six feet tall with a 74-inch reach and landed 2.3 significant strikes per minute at 46 percent accuracy during his time in the cage. He challenged for the UFC welterweight title in 2018, cementing his status as a former world title contender before his MMA career wound down.
The move to Bare Knuckle FC represents a sharp pivot away from the sport that made Till famous. Bare-knuckle boxing strips away gloves and much of the technical grappling that defines MMA, placing a premium on hand speed, durability, and punch placement — areas where Till's striking background gives him a natural foundation.
Why it matters
- Till is one of the highest-profile MMA names to cross over to Bare Knuckle FC, raising the organisation's visibility in the United Kingdom.
- His Birmingham debut gives BKFC a marquee event on home soil for one of England's most recognisable combat sports figures.
- The opponent announcement, when it comes, will shape how seriously the MMA community tracks Till's transition.
- With zero submission attempts logged per 15 minutes in MMA, Till was always a striker first, making bare-knuckle a logical stylistic fit.
