Darren Till announces move up to middleweight

Former UFC welterweight title challenger Darren Till is officially making the jump up to middleweight.

In a blog post written on PaddyPower.com, the Liverpool native revealed his recent loss to reigning champion Tyron Woodley at UFC 228 would “probably” be the last time he competes at 170 pounds.

“I’m a big dude for welterweight to be honest, so that’s probably going to be my last fight at that weight,” wrote Till. “Welterweight isn’t fully gone for me, but I’m going to be happy going up to middleweight now and I’ll be strong at that weight not having to cut as much weight.

“It’s not that I can’t make the weight. I’m just a big lad so I just have to be on such a strict, regimented diet and being honest, I don’t like doing it. People might say ‘he’s not disciplined enough’, but because I have to cut so much weight I can only eat the bare minimum of food and that’s not how I want to be training.”

Till (17-1-1) was always seen as one of the larger welterweights in the promotion. He famously compared himself to a “light heavyweight in the welterweight division” after dispatching Donald Cerrone with a first round TKO in 2017.

These words eventually came back to haunt Till after missing weight ahead of his next fight againstStephen Thompson. A harrowing video of his dramatic weight-cut later showcased the severity of his struggle to make 170-pounds.

There is currently no word on when Till will return to competition or who he will challenge in his quest into the UFC’s 185-pound division.