UFC Liverpool: Darren Till vs Stephen Thompson confirmed for Echo card
DARREN TILL’s wish to fight Stephen Thompson has been granted.
Darren Till will face Stephen Thompson at UFC Liverpool
The rising welterweight will take on the two-time welterweight title challenger in the main event of UFC Fight Night 130.
Fellow British welterweight Leon Edwards was briefly in contention to be Till’s dance partner for his sixth Octagon outing after an impressive call out last month at UFC Fight Night 127.
However, the UFC brass have decided to overlook a clash with ‘Rocky’ in favour of a bout with Thomspon, which many British mixed martial arts fans have been crying out for.
Till will have the benefit of home support when he locks horns with ‘Wonderboy’ as his encounter with the South Carolina native takes place in his hometown of Liverpool, England.
Twenty-five-year-old Till believes Thompson is the perfect opponent for him to face in front of his fellow Scousers.
“Yeah, I feel that 'Wonderboy' (is the ideal fight)," he told Express Sport prior to the booking of the fight. “Liverpool is such a fighting city.
“Loads of boxers, they love stand-up, they love blood and everything. That’s the fight to make.”
Welterweight MMA contender Darren Till shows impressive skills
'Wonderboy’ is a great striker and I believe I am the best striker in the world
Till’s desire to fight Thompson stemmed from his admiration of the Kempo Karate expert’s string prowess.
“‘Wonderboy’ is a great striker and I believe I am the best striker in the world,” Till said of Thompson.
“In any sport which involves fighting. Let’s put me and him to the test.
Darren Till beat Donald Cerrone in his last outing inside the Octagon
“No, let’s put me to the test. Because everyone just thinks I’m this guy who beat Cerrone and I haven’t trained for the last 14 years of me (sic) life.
“They think I’ve just come on the scene and beat Cerrone.
“But they’re just chatting major s**t."
UFC Fight Night 130 takes place at Liverpool's Echo Arena
UFC Fight 130 card (as it stands)
Darren Till vs Stephen Thompson
Neil Magny vs Gunnar Nelson
Tom Breese vs Daniel Kelly
Eric Spicely vs Darren Stewart
Arnold Allen vs Mads Burnell
Trevor Smith vs Elias Theodorou
Lina Lansberg vs Gina Mazany
Makwan Amirkhani vs Jason Knight
Brad Scott vs Jason Knight