Darren Till continues to shine in the boxing ring! This past Saturday in Manchester, the former UFC fighter knocked out Luke Rockhold, showcasing his boxing skills.
At 32 years old, Till, the Liverpudlian contender, sent 40-year-old Rockhold to the canvas not once, but twice—first in the second round and then in the third, after which the referee ended the match with Rockhold cornered and unable to continue.
Although Rockhold boasts a more illustrious MMA career, having held the UFC middleweight championship, Till seems to be thriving since making his boxing debut back in January. It’s worth mentioning that Till has rallied to an impressive 3-0 record under the Misfits banner, a promotion linked to YouTuber KSI. His earlier matches included a stoppage win over Anthony Taylor and a decision victory against fellow UFC athlete Darren Stewart.
The knockout victory over Rockhold at the AO Arena was significant, and the latter accepted the outcome with dignity. Rockhold even took to Instagram to express his support: “S*** happens, it’s all love @darrentill2.0. All the best to you brother,” sharing some drinks together in celebrating camaraderie amid competition.
Prior to this fight, **Rockhold** faced setbacks, including a knockout defeat in a karate match last year and a TKO in a bare-knuckle boxing bout in 2023, during which he suffered a damaging injury to his teeth. After stepping away from MMA in 2022, Rockhold’s career saw him becoming the middleweight champion only for a year, holding a notable victory over former champions like Lyoto Machida, Chris Weidman, and Michael Bisping.
In contrast, Till’s last appearance in the UFC was also in 2022 where he was trying to go back to his winning ways. The memorable challenge for the welterweight title in 2018 didn’t end in his favor, leading to a rough patch of 1-4 in his subsequent five fights.
After his impressive win against Rockhold, Till had his sights set on the retired boxing legend and two-time super middleweight champion Carl Froch, who witnessed the bout from ringside.
This post-fight rivalry sparks excitement for boxing fans as they watch Till’s transition from UFC star to boxing competitor and the dynamics with established legends.
