Darren Till discusses future move to middleweight, says he’s not interested in fighting Yoel Romero

This weekend, in the main event of UFC 228, undefeated Brit Darren Till will attempt to swipe the UFC welterweight title from the waist of reigning champion Tyron Woodley. From the sounds of it, this could be one of Till’s final fights in the welterweight division.

Though Till assures he will defend the title if he wins it at UFC 228, he also admits that a move to the 185-pound middleweight division is probably inevitable.

Even if he is the welterweight champion at the time of his move to 185, however, he’s in no rush to battle for that division’s title. He’s happy to work his way through the rankings. He’s just hoping he doesn’t have to fight Yoel Romero.

“Only a few more fights at welterweight and I’m done,” Darren Till told the media at a press event last week in Las Vegas (transcript via MMA Fighting).

“I’ve said I want to go to middleweight,” he continued. “It’s just… I see a lot of guys and they’re chasing money fights. They’re winning titles and they’re calling either the higher or the lower category or they’re calling for that super fight.

“When I take that belt, I want to defend that belt and then I want to go up to middleweight, but that doesn’t mean that I want to go up and challenge the champion. I would like to earn my stripes in that division too. I feel there are a lot of good guys in that division.”

“There’s one guy that I wouldn’t like to fight, Yoel Romero. I’m glad he’s gone up, he’s a fucking beast,” Till added with a laugh.

“I believe in life you have to earn your stripes. If I did go to middleweight in the UFC and they offered me the title I’m not going to say no. But I’m saying I’d love to earn my stripes, fight the top five, top ten. For me, going up to middleweight, I’m not focusing on the belt because I know I’m the best; I know I’ll win that belt as well.”

Whatever the case, Till reiterated that, for now, his focus is on winning the welterweight title and then defending it.

“I just want to win this belt. I want to defend it; I just want to be able to say that I’ve defended it. You could be looking at two or three fights at welterweight and then that’s me done. I’m 25, I’m not putting my body through this for much longer.

How do you think Darren Till will perform in the UFC middleweight division?

This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 9/3/2018.