Darren Till Rules Out Retirement After Third Consecutive Loss, But Needs ‘Time Off’
He last won in 2018 against Kelvin Gastelum.
Darren Till isn’t retiring.
The UFC English middleweight said that he won’t be hanging up his gloves, but he does need some “time off” from the promotion. Till suffered his third loss in a row at UFC 282 against Dricus Du Plessis by submission.
“You don’t always get what you want in this life,” Till said via Instagram following his loss.
“It’s tough. I’m f— 29 now. I’ve been at the top of the sport since 2017, entered in the UFC in 2015. I’m not retired, this is not a retirement speech. I’m 29, that would be stupid to decide. I’m on a bit of a losing skid at the moment, I really am. I ain’t finding my right way at the moment, and it’s crazy because when I’m in the gym sparring with the best guys in the world, I really am in [my] element, and then I step in the octagon and I just can seem to put things together. Then I have moments — like the second round — when I’m untouchable, and then certain things happen.”
Till has not won since 2019 when he edged Kelvin Gastelum via split decision at UFC 244, the undercard of Masvidal vs Diaz.
Prior to that win, he was on a two-fight losing streak to Jorge Masvidal and Tyron Woodley, who beat him out by submission for the UFC gold.
After tasting brief victory against Gastelum, he went on a three-fight losing streak to Robert Whittaker, Derek Brunson and, now, Du Plessis.
Despite being on a losing skid, Till is still considered one of the UFC’s bigger stars. His latest losses were also handed by the division’s best.
“I just want to say — whether you love me or hate me — I’m sorry,” Till said. “I tried to put a show on, I never cut no corners. I do really train, [and] maybe I train too much. I train like a f— man demented. The past 18 weeks I’ve given me all, and I’ve always given me all to this sport.
“Now, I don’t know what to do properly, but I think i’m going to have a little time off from the UFC, I don’t know, and just rethink stuff. I’m not retired, I want to fight, I want to fight next year, but now I just want to spend Christmas with my family, have a good time with my friends, and everybody who supports me, my team back home.
“I hope you enjoyed the fight and all, it was a bit of a war. Well done to Dricus,” Till continued.
“I felt like I had him there, I was making him switch. He was very scared to stand and strike, that’s why he was shooting for them takedowns.”