Yoel Romero and Darren Till will meet in a bare-knuckle boxing match at BKFC 94 in Manchester on September 26. The bout marks a notable crossover appearance for both former UFC fighters on the Bare Knuckle FC stage.
Yoel Romero and Darren Till are set to collide in a bare-knuckle boxing match at BKFC 94 in Manchester on September 26, bringing two of MMA's most recognizable names to the Bare Knuckle FC stage for the first time.
Till, known as "The Gorilla," enters the bout as a hometown favorite of sorts, representing England in front of what is expected to be a passionate British crowd. The 33-year-old southpaw carries an 18-5-1 record from his MMA career and stands six feet tall with a 74-inch reach. Fighting out of Astra Fight Team, Till built his reputation as a dangerous striker, landing 2.3 significant strikes per minute at 46 percent accuracy across his UFC tenure.
Romero, nicknamed "Soldier of God," brings a decorated combat sports background of his own to Manchester. The 49-year-old Cuban-born competitor, now representing the United States and training at American Top Team, compiled a 13-5 record in MMA and was long regarded as one of the most physically imposing fighters in the middleweight division. A fellow southpaw standing six feet tall with a 73-inch reach, Romero averaged 3.44 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy — numbers that reflected his explosive, high-output style inside the cage.
Why it matters
- Both men are former UFC middleweights transitioning to bare-knuckle competition, giving BKFC a marquee crossover attraction
- The Manchester setting puts Till in front of a home crowd, adding an emotional dimension to the matchup
- Two southpaw strikers with contrasting rhythms — Till's measured output versus Romero's volume and intensity — set up a compelling stylistic clash
- At 49, Romero's performance on the bare-knuckle platform will draw significant scrutiny given the physical demands of the format
