Introduction
The intensity is already palpable as former UFC middleweights, Luke Rockhold and Darren Till, prepare to face off in a boxing match at Misfits Boxing 22, scheduled for August 30 in Manchester, England. Their paths never crossed during their time in the UFC, but now they are set to finally go head-to-head in a six-round bout at 193 pounds.
Rivalry and Tensions
The rivalry reached new heights after the pair met for the first time at a pre-fight press conference in London on Wednesday. Tensions flared further during a heated virtual exchange on The Ariel Helwani Show, where accusations of using performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) were volleyed back and forth. Till launched a scathing attack, calling Rockhold a “juice head,” while Rockhold shot back, questioning Till’s boxing credentials and taunting him by saying,
“You’re not ‘Tilly,’ you’re ‘Tes’ now. You’re f—ing ‘Tes.”
Confidence and Comparisons
The exchanges didn’t stop there. Till, who was confident in his abilities, likened himself to UFC legend Daniel Cormier, stating,
“I’m the white ‘DC’— I can take every shot. Nobody knocked me out in middleweight against the best guys.”
Rockhold responded by referencing their past sparring, emphasizing that Till needed to get in shape.
Boxing Experience and Comebacks
While both fighters have experienced knockouts in their MMA careers, they have not faced similar fates since transitioning out of the UFC, with Till having slightly more boxing experience. Rockhold, on the other hand, is making a comeback after a less-than-successful boxing appearance against Mike Perry in April 2023.
Weight Negotiations
In a war of words regarding the weight for their match, Rockhold criticized Till for being inconsistent about his desired weight, stating,
“He wanted it 185. Then said he wouldn’t go above 188, which is just f—ing weird and dumb.”
Despite some back-and-forth, they eventually settled on the 193-pound limit, which Rockhold appears less than pleased about.
Fighter Backgrounds
Rockhold, typically recognized as the larger fighter during their UFC days, has fought as high as 205 pounds, while Till has fought at welterweight, beginning his career in the 170-pound division. It was interesting to note Rockhold’s claim about the negotiations, saying he felt Till was being evasive about weight, suggesting fear on his part.
Future Aspirations
Both fighters had considered returning to MMA, with Rockhold almost scheduling a rematch against Chris Weidman earlier this year. However, he is presently focused on boxing, appreciating the financial support he received from now-defunct promotions like Global Fight League (GFL).
“I was there for the GFL to get paid… I want to box for a little bit,”
said Rockhold as he paved his way into this new chapter of his combat sports journey.
Conclusion
As the August match approaches, the heightened emotions and taunts set the stage for what promises to be an electrifying showdown between two former champions.
