Darren Till is set for the toughest test of his bare-knuckle career as the former UFC title challenger prepares to face one of the most feared fighters in MMA history.
After making a statement in his BKFC debut earlier this year, Darren Till will return to headline BKFC 94 in Manchester on September 26 against former UFC middleweight title challenger Yoel Romero.
Till made an immediate impact under the BKFC banner in May when he knocked out Aaron Chalmers at BKFC 90. Despite being dropped early in the fight, the Liverpool native showed his resilience and bounced back with a devastating finish to continue his successful transition away from MMA.
The former UFC star signed a lucrative deal with BKFC earlier this year, and many fans expected a blockbuster showdown with Mike Perry to follow. While talks about that matchup continue, Perry’s schedule remains uncertain after taking on other combat sports commitments.
Instead, Darren Till now gets the opportunity to face a fighter he has been linked with for years.
BKFC President Dave Feldman officially announced on The Ariel Helwani Show that Till and Romero will headline BKFC 94 at Manchester’s AO Arena. The bout will take place at a 190-pound catchweight after both sides agreed on the weight.
Romero enters the contest after a successful BKFC debut last September, where he secured a TKO victory and reminded fans why he remains one of the most dangerous combat athletes in the world.
Interestingly, a fight between Till and Romero was frequently discussed during their UFC careers when both men competed near the top of the middleweight division. However, Till once made it clear he wasn’t eager to step inside the cage with the Cuban powerhouse.
Following his victory over Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 244, Till was asked about the possibility of facing Romero and gave an unforgettable response.
“Oh f— that guy, I don’t ever want to fight him! He’s a beast!” Till said while laughing.
In a recent BKFC press release, Till referenced those comments and revealed he’s finally ready to face the man who once gave him nightmares.
“I’ve finally gotten over my years of trauma and nightmares of Yoel Romero. So, let’s f—– do this!” Till said.
The matchup has been brewing for years, with both fighters openly discussing the possibility of facing one another. After plenty of speculation and social media exchanges, fans will finally get to see the clash become a reality.
According to Feldman, agreeing on the catchweight was the only significant hurdle in making the fight official. He also confirmed that discussions about a future Darren Till vs. Mike Perry matchup remain active, with BKFC targeting early next year if everything falls into place.
BKFC 94 will also feature a strong co-main event, as reigning middleweight champion David Mundell defends his title against British boxing standout Jack Cullen.
Meanwhile, Till’s future with the promotion appears secure. Although this fight marks the second bout of his current three-fight BKFC deal, Feldman revealed that discussions regarding a new contract extension are already underway.
For now, though, all eyes are on Manchester. Darren Till has spent years joking about avoiding Yoel Romero, but on September 26, he’ll finally step into the ring with one of the most intimidating fighters of his generation in what could be the biggest fight of his post-UFC career.
