Darren Till could be the next European UFC star.
With another UFC Fight Night on the horizon there seem to be some individuals, mostly casual MMA fans, that seem to be scratching their heads over the main event. Not because they’re wondering about who will win the bout. No. It’s because they’re wondering who the heck is Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone fighting in the first place. Well this Saturday could serve as a major jumping on point as Darren Till, you know the other guy fighting in the main event, is set to make a major impression on the MMA world.
It’s true that if you’re a casual fan that the name Darren Till does nothing to get a rise out of you. After all, the entirety of his UFC fights have been on fight pass or featured on the prelims. Unless you’re getting a major promotional push it’s going to be hard to receive recognition from more casual audiences, which in turn directly affects your earning power in the company. Hardcore fans alone aren’t buying tickets to UFC events. If you want to earn the big bucks and rise through the ranks you have to make an impression and that’s just what Darren Till intends to do Saturday.
So now that Darren Till is getting the push he’s been asking for, the very first thing I’ve heard from a handful of casual fans is the unavoidable comparison between the Liverpool native and UFC superstar Conor McGregor. Now, to be fair, the comparison isn’t completely unwarranted. Till is a European striker, has an insane amount of confidence, fights from a southpaw stance, and is nicknamed “The Gorilla”, an animal that Conor McGregor just so happens to admire.
Darren Till has the look and swagger of a superstar in the making. But what casual fans are going to have to accept is that he’s first and foremost his own person. Till has a striking style all his own, can speak both English and Portuguese, and appears to have even more of a mean streak than the oft jovial McGregor. That’s not to suggest that Till isn’t a laugh riot in his own right, but the distinction in their attitudes serves to hammer home the fact that each potential European star shouldn’t be compared to a Conor McGregor or a Michael Bisping. Darren Till has his own story to tell and legacy to leave behind.
Heading into his fights. Darren Till is no nonsense. In fact, rather than engaging in mind games or antagonizing his opponent before a fight, he tends to save a bit of the antics for the fight itself. Conor McGregor on the other hand is all about the build up, all about selling the fight and getting into his opponent’s head. Darren Till appears uninterested in such mind games. What he does want the world to know is that he’s not playing around and that he’s looking to be a cut above the rest.
The young UFC welterweight is looking to make a point come Saturday night that he is the future of the sport. To some, it all rings of familiarity, many of the casuals still comparing Till to a little known Dublin born champion. The below interview of Darren Till should sum up just what kind of individual this young man is and why he’s different, albeit similar, to Conor McGregor.
Call it cocky, call it confident, but be sure to call it all Darren Till.
Friday will feature a breakdown of the Liverpool native and how he and Cowboy match up in the main event.
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Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to keep up with his antics.
