NBA
Exclusive Darren Till interview: I’d say YES to a YT boxing fight; I was stabbed, dying when a nightclub security brought me back to life; I need to work on my aggression to start winning again
In an exclusive interview with Basketball Insiders, UFC fighter Darren Till opens up about the nearly fatal night he was stabbed outside a nightclub in Liverpool.
Till also gives an honest assessment of what he needs to go to get back to winning ways in the UFC, whilst hinting at future in the boxing ring and PFL.
If you would like to use any quotes from the exclusive interview with Darren Till, you must credit and link to Basketball Insiders.
Interview highlights:
- Andrew Tate inspired my walk on music
- If Ngannou feels like heโs not getting paid what heโs worth, heโs right to leave
- I want Khamzat to fight Colby and then Leon Edwards, heโll win both
- Jones is too much for Gane
- I think itโs the end for Conor, but heโs still biggest name in the sport
- I respect what Jake Paul is doing in boxing
Question: UFC 283 takes place in your adopted nation of Brazil, what makes Brazilian UFC events different to others?
Darren Till: โThe people mainly. Brazilians are so passionate about UFC and sport in general itโs incredible. Football is huge in Brazil as well of course. I went to a couple of games and theyโre such chaotic, passionate fans. Theyโre lovely people but the two main things in Brazil are Brazilian jiu-jitsu and football. On carnival days when the beers are flowing you can see the passion for MMA everywhere. Iโm one of the co-founders of BlockAsset and we have a few Brazilian athletes like Glover Teixeira working for us and it was honestly manic when it was announced that UFC 283 will be in Rio.โ
Q: What fights on the UFC 283 card have really caught your eye?
DT: โFirstly I just want to say Iโm disappointed that the Gregory Rodrigues vs Brad Tavares match isnโt going ahead because that wouldโve been great (due to an injury suffered by Tavares in training. He will be replaced by Brunno Ferreira). Also a great friend of mine, Mounir Lazzez, who is fighting on the preliminary card. I canโt wait for that one, heโs got a tough fight against Gabriel Bonfim but Iโm sure heโll pull through. Obviously the two main matches Deiveson Figueiredo vs Brandon Moreno and Glover Teixeira vs Jamahal Hill have the potential to be epic. Big shout out as well to Jessica Andrade. Sheโs been in the UFC for eight years and sheโs a beast so I’m really looking forward to her fight too. And also a big shout out to Gilbert because Khamzhatโs going to beat him again (laughs).โ
Q: Do you foresee any big shocks at the weekend?
DT: โFor people who want to know my insight, I feel like in Brazil the crowd can be such an important factor that they can even influence a match. They can get into a fighterโs head. Theyโll chant phrases like โvocรช vai morrerโ which means โyouโre going to dieโ. I know it sounds bad but it sounds different in Portuguese (laughs). So some fighters that me and you think are going to win could potentially lose if the crowd goes against them. Wait until they do a camera live on the crowd! I promise you itโs going to be absolutely epic.โ
Q: Which of your UFC victories stands out in your mind as the best so far?
DT: โItโs crazy because Iโve been in the game a long time but Iโve only just hit 30 and they say your 30s are your prime years. So Iโve had great moments when I burst onto the scene when I beat Cowboy Cerrone and when I headlined the Echo Arena in Liverpool. When I fought a co-main event against Kelvin Gastelum and then as well headlining with Robert Whitakker was memorable. Even some of my losses have been memorable too and Iโm coming into my prime now so if I can knuckle down and focus properly then Iโm sure Iโll move even further up the ladder in the future.โ
Q: UFC 286 will be held in London. Are you hoping to be a part of that event?
DT: โI did yeah but Iโve been back home for a few weeks now and Iโm sort of in a bit of limbo. Iโm not entirely sure what my plans are and it might be a bit too soon if Iโm completely honest. Iโm not injured or anything but I just want to make sure Iโm in a good frame of mind. Even in that last fight I felt in a good state of mind but thereโs a few little factors I just want to work on. So I might not be involved but I am very happy for Leon Edwards who is headlining UFC 286. I feel like he deserves all the credit heโs getting because I feel itโs a bit overdue over the last few years. Tom Aspinall might be fighting too and itโs good to see all these British fighters doing their thing.โ
Q: Youโve had a few tough consecutive losses now. Is there anything specific youโre looking to improve on?
DT: โThe aggression factor. In the gym Iโm so aggressive. When I got into the Du Plesis fight I had him flinching a lot in the second round and I could see he was terrified. I really shouldโve stopped him there and then with the power I carry. But for whatever reason I couldnโt pull the trigger and really let it go. So in my mind thereโs got to be some mental things Iโve got to work on and tweak a bit. Not massively but also on the grappling side of things, I didnโt do enough of that and I donโt know why. Thereโs a few aspects I want to talk about with my team as well. But thereโs plenty of time to learn and strive for the greatness that Iโm hoping for. Iโve just got to live a clean life and keep working hard.โ
Q: In that fight with Du Plesis, you came to the octagon to the song Tourner Dans Le Vide, synonymous with Andrew Tateโs viral videos. Is that a happy coincidence or are you a fan?ย
DT: โI know heโs probably the most controversial person out there at the moment but Iโve actually known Andrew for many years because he was a fighter himself previously. Iโll say this to Andrewโs face. Thereโs a lot of things he says that I agree with and a few that I disagree with but I like him and I like some of the things he stands for. I know heโs very controversial but I donโt think heโs a bad person and that theme tune for me is just sick. When Iโve seen some of the viral videos Iโve just thought yeah thatโs a bit of me. You could be caught on video giving a million pounds away and someone would still criticise you. Itโs like sometimes nothingโs ever good enough. I used to host a youtube channel called โOpinions and Arseholesโ and I used to say itโs because everyoneโs got one. You canโt please everyone. Iโm a fan of his but not of all his views and thatโs just the way the world works.โ
Q: What do you think of Andrew Tateโs recent arrest in Romania?
DT: โItโs tough for me to comment because Iโm not a guy who watches a lot of TV or a lot of news and politics, so I donโt know whoโs lying and whoโs not these days. I think your average person is getting more familiar with how the world works thanks to social media. But as the phrase goes youโre innocent until proven guilty arenโt you? I havenโt looked into it too much. Iโve been thinking about giving my opinion on Twitter but Iโve got half a million followers and as soon as I give my opinion you never know what the reaction might be so Iโve stepped back. If he is guilty then obviously thatโs not good but equally he might be innocent.โ
Q: What were the main differences between training in Brazil compared to training here?
DT: โ Obviously the weather was very different to start with, itโs amazing out there. Actually I will get political for a minute. You know when we buy a pair of trainers here theyโll cost say ยฃ100 but out in Brazil I remember being shocked because they were like triple the price! Thatโs because itโs all imported but on the other hand, the food and fruit is so cheap and thatโs because they are self-sufficient in terms of farming. Itโs all so fresh and the quality is fantastic. In terms of training it was incredible too. Everyday on the mat there were literally 20 black belts all gunning for you. Itโs very sick over there. Brazil is such a huge country. Itโs more like a continent in my eyes.โ
Q: Where is tougher to grow up – Brazil or Liverpool?ย
DT: โI lived in the favelas of Brazil and life there is totally different. When I ventured through Sao Paulo and Rio de Janiro itโs very eye opening. Iโve got a close friend who’s from the Amazon Rainforest and his mum doesnโt even have windows. You donโt know about poverty until youโve been to a place like that. Itโs a tough country to grow up in and thatโs probably why theyโre so good at fighting. It makes the skin tough, it really does.โ
Q: How did you avoid getting into sticky situations while you were living out there?
DT: โI was always in sticky situations! I remember one time when I was walking through an unknown favela in another city after Iโd just fought and this group of guys collared me and they were like โoi whiteboyโ and I was thinking โI really donโt need this s**t now!โ Itโs not like here where thereโs serious consequences for serious crimes. If you kill someone here youโre going to jail for 20 years but over there life is different in terms of the way things are resolved. You have to be careful. Iโd always try to walk with a crowd and of course the lads from the gym were all from the favelas and they had my back.โ
Q: What can you share about being stabbed? Did it change your perspective on life?
DT: โIโve been in some situations in my life. There was a time when I was training at my gym in Liverpool when I was struggling to make money and I was sort of on both sides of the law you could say. It was not a good place to be but I was a terrific fighter and my coach always knew that. I got into a situation in a nightclub where a fight broke out and I got stabbed twice in my ribs. I think the blade was centimetres from a major artery and if it had hit that it wouldโve seen me bleeding out and dying. To cut a long story short I remember sitting outside the club and seeing a light. Iโm not a big believer in God but in that moment I remember thinking it must be my time to go. But a security guard from the club stuck his fingers in the wound and he brought me back. It was a brutal moment but it changed my life for the better in the long term. Iโve got a beautiful family now and a house and everything I could wish for really.โ
Q: Are there any up and coming Brazilian fighters you have high hopes for?
DT: “I Want to give a shout out to Caio Borralho, heโs one of BlockAssetโs athletes and I think heโs a terrific fighter. I love him and I think heโs going to make it to the top. Before he got into the UFC he used to send me messages and I helped him get involved with us. Heโs going to take the game by storm.”
Q: Who do you want to see Khamzat fight next? Colby?
DT: โI would love to see him get the belt at welterweight. I think heโs destined to get that. But at the same time I donโt want to see him risk deteriorating his health by doing so. Heโs already a big guy if he sticks to a strong diet and regime then he can make it. I would love to see the Colby fight but also I would love to see him fight Leon Edwards and I think he gets to win on both. I think Colby is great but Khamzat just carries too much striking power for him.โ
Q: What do you think of Francis Ngannou leaving the UFC? Was it a shock?
DT: โIf heโs not happy, heโs not happy and if heโs been able to negotiate a deal to get out of his contract then fair dos. If he feels like heโs not getting paid what heโs worth then thatโs on him isnโt it. Iโve got a good relationship with Dana (White) and Hunter (Campbell) and the guys but obviously Iโd like to get paid more too. I always said to Dana if I have a problem with the money Iโll come to you direct. Iโm not one of those guys who will hold court in public and diss him after saying something like that.โ
Q: In terms of Dana, and the media storm surrounding him right now, whatโs best for him? Does he need to step away from the forefront of UFC events for a bit?ย
DT: โDanaโs always been a big advocate against abuse and the โwoke brigadeโ for lack of a better term. Iโm trying to give a solid opinion. The one thing I really donโt agree with is him saying โyou need meโ. Thereโs always got to be consequences and punishments when you do something wrong. Itโs just the way the world works. What he was filmed doing in the club obviously can’t be condoned in any way.โ
Q: Do you think Ciryl Gane is a difficult style fight for Jon Jones? Who wins for you?
DT: โWhat a fight! Wow! Itโs interesting because Francis Ngannou took Gane down and Jones is the best wrestler in the heavyweight division and that speaks volumes for me. Jones is not a stupid fighter whoโll go striking with Gane, heโll mix it up. Jones has been out for a hell of a long time but I still think heโll prove too strong. But it will be great viewing.โ
Q: What are the chances of the Jack Hermansson fight being made again?
DT: โThereโs always a chance but MMA is moving so fast these days you just can never be sure. One or two losses will see you fall down the rankings just as fast as a couple of wins will bump you up. Boxing is different but MMA is evolving so quickly. Iโve been hearing that Ryan Garcia and Gervonta Davis are going to fight for the last 20 years! Are you going to fight or not? Same as Joshua vs Fury. Just get on and fight each other.โ
Q: Thoughts on Conor McGregor? Should he retire? Is he still a huge draw or past his best?
DT: โI think Conor has been there and done it, made his money and now heโs happy. Iโm sure he probably wants to come back but deep down he knows lifeโs different now. I think itโs probably the end for Conor but heโs still the biggest name in the sport.โ
Q: What are your thoughts on the new generation of British talent currently on the books in the UFC? Paddy Pimblett and Meatball Molly etc.
DT: โMMA is on the rise in Liverpool. Thereโs so much raw talent coming through now in the UK as a whole but Liverpool seems to be the heart right now. Theyโre looking to us for inspiration and itโs going to be scary in 10 years what these kids are going to be up to.โ
Q: Is there a โTeam Liverpoolโ connection with Paddy?
DT: โYeah there has to be doesnโt there. We have to stick together because itโs only a small city.โ
Q: โWhat are your thoughts on his ยฃ1m Barstool contract?โ
DT: โHeโs a kid from Huyton making a million quid! Who wouldโve thought that was possible? Itโs the best thing you can do in this sport and heโs showing thereโs no limits. It can be achieved and anything is possible.โ
Q: Rumour has it that headline MMA fighters operating under Jake Paulโs PFL banner will earn up to 50% of PPV revenue! Thoughts on this?ย
DT: โIf theyโre getting the cheddar then fair play to them! Heโs got everyone talking about him and youโve got to respect it whether he can really fight or not.โ
Q: Any interest in fighting in the PFL in the future?
DT: โMaybe yeah. Itโs absolutely growing so big right now. Brendan Loughnane obviously just won a million dollars and the PFL World Championship. Theyโre getting to sign some big names right now even from the UFC. So that could happen yeah. I could go and make some money there.โ
Q: Would you ever fight a YouTuber?
DT: โIโd have to say yes. Thatโs where the money is. Even if maybe I didnโt really want to, because itโs tough to turn it down financially. Close your eyes and say yes and sign on the dotted line!โ
Q: Do you respect Jake Paul for what heโs done in the boxing ring so far?ย
DT: โI think heโs training really hard and putting 100% into it now. Again we have to respect it but letโs wait and see when he gets some tougher fights against more accomplished opponents. Heโs kept proving the doubters wrong so yeah, keep making the money and doing what you’re doing.โ