Darren Till has signed a multi-fight agreement with Bare Knuckle FC. The former UFC welterweight contender will make his bare-knuckle boxing debut at an event in Birmingham, England on May 30. His opponent for the debut has not yet been announced. Till's move to bare-knuckle fighting marks a significant career shift after his mixed martial arts run. The multi-fight nature of the deal suggests Till is committed to competing in the promotion beyond just a single appearance. Bare Knuckle FC announced the signing officially.
Darren Till has officially signed a multi-fight deal with Bare Knuckle FC, with the former UFC welterweight contender set to make his bare-knuckle boxing debut on May 30 at an event in Birmingham, England. The promotion confirmed the signing, though an opponent for Till's first appearance has not yet been named.
Till, nicknamed "The Gorilla," brings an 18-5-1 professional MMA record into this new chapter of his combat sports career. The 33-year-old Englishman competed in the UFC's welterweight and middleweight divisions and was once considered one of the most dangerous strikers in the sport. Standing six feet tall with a 74-inch reach and fighting out of a southpaw stance, Till averaged 2.3 significant strikes landed per minute during his MMA career, posting a striking accuracy of 46 percent. He trains out of Astra Fight Team and has not recorded a submission attempt per 15 minutes across his career, underlining a style built almost entirely around his hands and movement.
The multi-fight nature of the agreement signals that Till's move to bare-knuckle competition is a sustained commitment rather than a one-off crossover appearance.
Why it matters
- Till's striking-focused background makes him a natural fit for bare-knuckle competition, where grappling is largely removed from the equation.
- His signing gives Bare Knuckle FC a recognizable name with a significant following in the United Kingdom, and a Birmingham event adds hometown appeal.
- The deal raises questions about Till's future in MMA, given that multi-fight contracts with promotions outside the UFC can complicate any potential return.
- With no opponent announced yet, the matchmaking decision will go a long way toward defining expectations for his debut.
