Darren Till has never been one to shy away from a challenge, and even as he prepares to step into the boxing ring for one of the biggest fights of his career, the itch for mixed martial arts still lingers. The former UFC middleweight contender, who last competed in the octagon at the end of 2022, has admitted that thoughts of a return to the cage continue to cross his mind despite his growing profile in the boxing world.
The Liverpudlian remains a prominent figure in combat sports. After leaving the UFC on his own terms, Till has reinvented himself as a major attraction in Misfits Boxing, where he has quickly become one of the promotion’s biggest stars. On Saturday night, he headlines against former UFC champion Luke Rockhold, marking another high-profile chapter in his post-UFC journey. Yet, as much as boxing excites him, he hasn’t closed the door on a potential comeback to MMA.
Till Still Drawn to the Octagon
In an interview with Bloody Elbow ahead of his headline fight, Till made it clear that while boxing is currently his focus, the UFC has not been completely erased from his plans.
“I don’t know,” Till said when asked if his career in the octagon was officially over. “I still have the itch for it sometimes. So whenever I’m done with Misfits we’ll see… I do think I’ve still got it in me there’s just a few things I’d need to focus up on.”
For Till, it isn’t simply a matter of stepping back into the cage. Transitioning between boxing and MMA requires a complete shift in training, habits, and strategies. He acknowledged that some of the adjustments he’s made to focus on boxing would need to be undone if he were to make a serious MMA return.
“So obviously I’ll need to take some time, focus up on those things and then who knows? I think the story is not over,” he added.
Those words will excite fans who still remember his rise through the UFC’s welterweight and middleweight ranks. Till may have endured setbacks, but his competitive fire is far from extinguished.
The Last UFC Appearance
Till’s most recent UFC outing came against Dricus Du Plessis in late 2022. At the time, Du Plessis was still climbing the ladder, but Till gave him arguably the toughest test of his UFC run up until then. Though Till ultimately lost, his performance reminded many why he was once viewed as one of the brightest prospects in the sport.
That fight also highlighted the grit and determination that made Till a fan favorite. Despite injuries and long layoffs, he pushed the eventual champion to the limit, leaving many to wonder what might have been if circumstances had played out differently. It is those flashes of brilliance that fuel speculation about a possible UFC return.
A Heated Rivalry with Rockhold
For now, however, Till’s focus is firmly on the boxing ring, and his upcoming showdown with Luke Rockhold has captured the attention of both MMA and boxing audiences. The rivalry between the two former UFC fighters has escalated dramatically in recent weeks, with tempers flaring at every promotional stop.
At Thursday’s ceremonial weigh-ins, things nearly boiled over when Till and Rockhold clashed in front of fans and cameras. The Brit even found himself in an unlikely alliance with Dillon Danis, who reportedly injured Rockhold during a backstage scuffle.
The drama carried over into Friday’s press conference, which was significantly delayed because the headliners could not stop trying to get at one another. Rockhold, once the UFC middleweight champion, attempted to leap over tables to attack Till, forcing security to step in and physically restrain him.
Till, meanwhile, refused to back down. He tried to find a way around the barrier but had to settle for hurling insults across the room. For a moment, cameras cut away as organizers scrambled to regain control of the chaotic scene.
The hostility has turned the fight into more than just a crossover event. It has become a grudge match, with two proud former UFC competitors seeking to prove their superiority in a new arena.
Boxing Now, But UFC Later?
While Misfits Boxing has given Till a platform to showcase his skills and entertain fans, the allure of MMA remains strong. At 31 years old, he still has time to mount a comeback, especially in a sport where late-career surges are not uncommon. Fighters such as Michael Bisping and Glover Teixeira became champions later in their careers, and Till may draw inspiration from those stories.
The key, however, would be preparation. MMA is unforgiving, and as Till himself admitted, he would need to retrain his body and mind to adjust back to the octagon. Still, the fact that he hasn’t ruled it out keeps the possibility alive and ensures his name remains a talking point among UFC fans.
As he steps into the ring against Rockhold, the immediate focus is on proving that he can transition successfully into boxing. But beyond this weekend, the question will continue to hover: is Darren Till’s UFC chapter truly closed, or is there one more act left in the cage?
What’s at Stake
For Till, Saturday night is about more than just a boxing debut against a fellow UFC veteran. It’s about re-establishing himself as a headline attraction, proving that his charisma and fighting style can captivate fans in any combat sport.
For Rockhold, it’s an opportunity to silence a rival who has relentlessly mocked him and to prove that he, too, can carve out a successful path after leaving the UFC. The result of their fight could go a long way toward shaping the future of both men.
Regardless of the outcome, Till’s comments about still having the itch for MMA ensure that his story is far from finished. Whether in boxing gloves or four-ounce gloves, Darren Till remains one of the most compelling figures in combat sports today.
