Darren Till thinks Stephen Thompson was forced into fight with him, gives prediction

One of the most highly anticipated prospect returns in recent months belongs to Liverpool’s own Darren Till. After a sensational breakthrough performance against Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone in October, Till is now set to come back in a showdown on his home turf against one of the division’s very best in Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson.

With his big fight just a week away Till took the time to discuss his world-class striking opponent with MMAnytt and said he believes Thompson didn’t want to take this fight.

“I think ’cause [Thompson] didn’t want to take this fight he’s been talking a bit more out of tame lately. Not bad, ’cause you know, he’s not a shit talker, he’s not a bad person he’s a nice guy. But just ’cause I feel like he was forced into this fight he didn’t want to take it. But he’s still comin’ and he’s comin’ to beat me on home turf and we’ll see, mate.”

Both fantastic strikers in their own ways, Till will be the more inexperienced of the two as Thompson is 10 years older than the Brit and has entire karate background to his name that precedes his MMA experience. But that doesn’t shake Till’s confidence in the slightest as he continued on and gave his prediction for the bout.

“I truly believe I’m gonna stop him in the second. It wouldn’t surprise me if the first. I truly believe I’m gonna stop Stephen Thompson. He might say otherwise, you know, get off me high horse, ‘kid, you’re not experienced like I am,’. Can say what he wants to say.

I respect him as a martial artist, as the person he is, as the man he is. He’s just a gentleman. But this is fuckin’ fighting, not tennis and I truly believe I’m gonna stop him in first or the second.

There’s no 35-year old man out there who can fuckin’ last more than three rounds with a guy like me right now.”

Thompson and Till are the main event for UFC Fight Night 130 next Sunday, May 27th.

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 5/18/2018.