Darren Till Looks to Prove Doubters Wrong
The main event at Fight Night Liverpool is a fascinating matchup between a prospect who is striding through the Welterweight ranks and an experienced fighter who has acted as the division’s gatekeeper for some time.
Depending on who you ask, the fight against Stephen Thompson is either a step too soon for Darren Till, or it will herald the arrival of a future Welterweight champion. Aside from a majority draw against Nicolas Dalby in 2015, Till’s record is perfect heading into the Octagon in Liverpool. There is no doubt, though, that there is an enormous difference in class between Till’s previous opponents and Stephen Thompson, and although Till’s demolition of Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone showcased his striking ability – and earned him a shot at the number one contender – he will have his hands full trying to solve the puzzle of Stephen Thompson, as so many fighters have before him.
Stylistically, it's an intriguing matchup. Darren Till’s aggressive forward movement is a delight for fans, combining rangy strikes from outside with hard shots once he gets in close. He has a 1-inch advantage in leg reach over Thompson, so if he finds his range, there’s a chance he could land some kicks of his own on his way in. Thompson, though, is a master of distance management, better than anyone else in the UFC at using every inch of his reach. He will look to keep Till outside as much as possible.
There's a lot on the line for both fighters. If Thompson emerges as the victor, he will almost certainly earn himself another title shot. That might be against the winner of the interim title fight between Rafael dos Anjos and Colby Covington or a unified champ further in the future, should Tyron Woodley make a return to the Octagon soon. If he beats Thompson, Till’s next fight is not as nailed-on. Granted, it would be a huge upset if we wins, but whether the UFC is ready to launch him straight into a title fight with everything else that’s going on in the Welterweight division remains to be seen. Kamaru Usman is pushing for a title shot after his recent win over Demian Maia, but should that not come to fruition, a number one contender fight against Darren Till could be on the cards.
Stephen Thompson heads into the fight as the bookmakers’ favourite to win. He’s odds-on to do so everywhere you look, with Bet365 offering 10/17. It seems that many people fancy a Darren Till upset, though, as he’s the most popular bet at the moment. You’ll get 7/5 on him to win from Bet365.
| Type | Odds | Provider | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fight Winner |
Stephen Thompson
10/17
Darren Till
7/5
|
 |
Bet Now |
*Please note, odds may fluctuate
Elsewhere On the Fight Card
Gunnar Nelson’s withdrawal from UFC Fight Night Liverpool was met with disappointment by fans of his slick submission game. Craig “The Thundercat” White steps in to take Nelson’s place against Neil Magny, in what will be his UFC debut. White was due to fight for the vacant Cage Warriors Welterweight Championship in July, but instead he will take on one of the UFC’s top 10 Welterweights in his very first appearance in the organisation. All of White’s 14 wins have come by way of finish and he will be looking to make an instant name for himself when he takes on an experienced, well-rounded opponent. As you would expect, though, the odds are against him, sitting at roughly 4/1 across the board.
Arnold Allen returns to the cage over a year after beating Makwan Amirkhani (who also fights in Liverpool). Last time out he earned a close split decision victory and extended his current win streak to five fights, in a fight that delighted MMA purists with its showcase of technical grappling. He will face Denmark’s Mads Burnell, who is 1-1 so far in the UFC and fighting off the back of a unanimous decision victory over Mike Santiago. Allen is the heavy favourite to take the win at 4/11, with Burnell 2/1 to end his opponent’s streak.
In the pick of the other main card fights, Jason “The Kid” Knight will look to get back into the win column against Arnold Allen’s previous opponent, Makwan Amirkhani. Knight has lost his last two fights, so the pressure will be on to perform in Liverpool. This is also the first fight back in a year for Amirkhani, after Allen halted his own four-fight win streak, so he will also be out to impress. Knight goes into the fight with the bookies behind him, but Amirkhani is a skilled opponent, so it’s far from a foregone conclusion.
| Type | Odds | Provider | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fight Winner |
Neil Magny
2/11
Craig White
4/1
|
|
Bet Now |
| Fight Winner |
Arnold Allen
4/11
Mads Burnell
9/4
|
|
Bet Now |
| Fight Winner |
Jason Knight
8/13
Makwan Amirkhani
5/4
|
 |
Bet Now |
*Please note, odds may fluctuate
Sports.net’s Top Tip
Darren Till can do it, can’t he? Stephen Thompson has arguably never faced a fighter quite like Till – stylistically, Rory MacDonald is the closest comparison – and the fight may depend on how well Thompson can stop his opponent moving forward. If Till can get inside and stay there, he has the power to end Wonderboy’s night early. Till is 7/5 to win; if you fancy narrowing in on a method of victory, the odds will only get better. On a similar note, Thompson’s last four fights have gone the distance, so if you’re thinking of backing him to win, look for a Decision or Technical Decision as method of victory.
That being said, considering the surprising ease with which Till ran through Donald Cerrone, we’re backing him to win in front of his home crowd.
| Type | Odds | Provider | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fight Winner |
Darren Till
7/5
|
|
Bet Now |
*Please note, odds may fluctuate
UFC Fight Night Liverpool: Thompson vs Till takes place on Sunday 27th May at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, UK. Prelims get underway at 4pm BST (11am EST), with the main card starting at 6pm BST (1pm EST). The event will be televised on BTSport2 in the UK and on Fox Sports 1 in the US.
