Darren Till has signed a multi-fight agreement with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. The former UFC middleweight contender is scheduled to make his promotional debut on May 30, 2026, at an event in Birmingham, England. Till's opponent for the debut bout has not yet been announced. This marks a new chapter in Till's combat sports career as he transitions from mixed martial arts to bare-knuckle boxing. The signing represents a significant acquisition for Bare Knuckle FC as they continue to attract high-profile fighters from other promotions.
Darren Till has signed a multi-fight deal with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, with his promotional debut set for May 30, 2026, in his home country of England. The event will be held in Birmingham, though an opponent for Till's first bare-knuckle bout has not yet been named.
Till, known as "The Gorilla," brings a notable MMA resume to the bare-knuckle scene. The 33-year-old Englishman compiled an 18-5-1 record across his mixed martial arts career, earning a reputation as one of the more dangerous strikers in the middleweight division. Standing six feet tall with a 74-inch reach, the southpaw averaged 2.3 significant strikes landed per minute at a 46 percent accuracy rate during his time in MMA. He trained out of Astra Fight Team and rose to become a legitimate UFC middleweight contender before stepping away from the sport.
Why it matters
- Till is one of the most recognizable names Bare Knuckle FC has signed, lending the promotion considerable mainstream visibility.
- His background as a southpaw striker with solid output translates naturally to the bare-knuckle format, where boxing fundamentals are at a premium.
- The Birmingham venue places the event in Till's home region, which could draw strong regional interest and a passionate crowd.
- No opponent has been confirmed, meaning the full competitive significance of the debut remains to be seen.
The signing marks a clear pivot in Till's combat sports career as he moves away from MMA entirely and tests himself in a discipline that strips the contest down to pure striking.
