UFC middleweight Darren Till was supposed to turn things around at UFC 282. He planned to snap his losing streak with a win over Dricus Du Plessis, but instead suffered a third straight loss. Du Plessis submitted Till in the final round, and the fighter from Liverpool took to Instagram to discuss the loss, how he needs a break from fighting, and the simple fact that he won’t be retiring any time soon.
“You don’t always get what you want in this life. It’s tough. I’m f****** 29 now. I’ve been at the top of the sport since 2017, entered in the UFC in 2015.
Darren Till To Take “Break” From UFC, Still Refuses to Retire
I’m not retired, this is not a retirement speech. I’m 29, that would be stupid to decide. I’m on a bit of a losing skid at the moment, I really am. I ain’t finding my right way at the moment, and it’s crazy because when I’m in the gym sparring with the best guys in the world, I really am in [my] element, and then I step in the octagon and I just can seem to put things together.
Then I have moments — like the second round — when I’m untouchable, and then certain things happen.”
The fight was a back-and-forth war, a far better performance for Till than either of his last two outings. Dricus Du Plessis dominated the first round, but Till was able to bounce back and almost finish his opponent in the second. Ultimately, Du Plessis’ ground game proved too much for “The Gorilla” and Till succumbed to a vicious face crank.
“I just want to say, whether you love me or hate me, I’m sorry. I tried to put a show on, I never cut no corners. I do really train, [and] maybe I train too much. I train like a f****** man demented. The past 18 weeks I’ve given me all, and I’ve always given me all to this sport.
Now, I don’t know what to do properly, but I think i’m going to have a little time off from the UFC, I don’t know, and just rethink stuff. I’m not retired, I want to fight, I want to fight next year, but now I just want to spend Christmas with my family, have a good time with my friends, and everybody who supports me, my team back home.
I hope you enjoyed the fight and all, it was a bit of a war. Well done to Dricus. I felt like I had him there, I was making him switch. He was very scared to stand and strike, that’s why he was shooting for them takedowns.”
Do you think we’ve seen the last of Darren Till? Let us know in the comments.
