Darren Till just can’t catch a break, and it’s starting to take a toll on him.
Till (18-4-1 MMA, 6-4-1 UFC) recently had to withdraw from his UFC Fight Night 208 co-main event bout against Jack Hermansson in London due to a leg injury. It’s the fourth time he’s had to pull out of a fight in his past five scheduled bouts.
The former welterweight title challenger has struggled to build momentum with losses in four of his past five bouts. Till hasn’t fought since a stoppage loss to Derek Brunson in September 2021 and will miss out on getting to compete in his home country July 23.
“It’s just so frustrating at this point in my career,” Till said in an interview with Block Asset. “I’m happy for the way English MMA is going – to see all these up-and-comers, Tom (Aspinall), Paddy (Pimblett), Muhammad (Mokaev), all these guys. I’m so happy to see them in the position they’re in. But it’s so f*cking frustrating for me at the same time because I know my potential. I’m not downing anyone, but I’m the f*cking best out there and I know that.
“It’s just such a f*cking depressing time for me at the moment because listen, trolls don’t bother me. But it’s just these f*cking comments and all these – even fighters – and they’re like, ‘Oh, he pulled out.’ I’m like, ‘Mate, come to the gym and I’ll f*cking take you out.’ It’s just so frustrating for me right now. It really is. I’m at a f*cking low point.”
Till is one of the most popular fighters on the UFC’s roster, but his inactivity has held him back from reaching his goals. The 29-year-old still is confident he will become champion, but recent setbacks have put him through a difficult time.
“I feel like I’m in a Tyson Fury moment,” Till said. “Remember when he was going through that depressed stage? And I feel like that’s where I’m at now. Obviously I’m not drinking and taking drugs – that’s not my way. But I still feel like that. Honestly, I’m not about that new age of, ‘Oh, I’m depressed,’ mental health and all that bullsh*t. I come from a different era. But it just makes you feel so f*cking low, sh*t like this.
“I’m not a crying, man, or anything, but it f*cking frustrates me so much. I’m so pissed off with it. It doesn’t bother me, but it does. Anyone who says the trolls don’t bother you is a liar. Don’t get me wrong – I f*cking give it back to the c*nts. But some little comments get to you, like, ‘Oh, retire now.’ What do you mean retire? What the f*ck are you harping on about? I haven’t even dented my prime yet. I know where I’m at, but you just have to take that sh*t on the chin.”