UFC Liverpool: I’m the face of UK MMA now, not Bisping - Darren Till
MICHAEL BISPING’s legendary mixed martial arts career looks set to come to an end this year, and with it his time as the face of the sport in the United Kingdom.
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For the last 12 years, Manchester native Michael Bisping has been flying the flag for UK MMA, which has grown exponentially in that period.
His career-defining moment, and indeed the biggest moment in the history of British mixed martial arts, came in June 2016 in the main event of UFC 199, where he knocked out Luke Rockhold on less than two weeks' notice to claim the middleweight title.
Bisping's reign at the summit of the middleweight division came to an end last November in the main event of UFC 217, which prompted him to declare that he only has one more fight left in him.
With Bisping close to hanging up his gloves, attention has turned to the new breed of mixed martial artists in the UK, which is fast becoming a hotbed for the 25-year-old sport.
Top of the list is without a doubt rising UFC welterweight Darren Till, who scored the biggest win of his career last October when he decimated fan-favourite Donald Cerrone inside one round.
Till grew up watching Bisping pave the way for other Brits to ply their trade in mixed martial arts' premier promotion and has a huge amount of respect for what he's done for the sport on these shores.
But he believes his time as the flag-bearer for British MMA is now over.
Respect to him, he done very well. But it’s me now.
“It’s already me,” Till told Express Sport when asked if he’s now the face of MMA in the UK. “Everybody just speaks about me.
“Breakout fighter (of the year). Any tweet you see the UFC talking about, it’s Darren Till.
“They said, ‘Who is the most well-rounded fighter?’ They said Darren Till. Which I’m not, by the way.
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“I am not the most well-rounded fighter, I’ve blagged it. It’s all just a big con.
'I’ve only got a left hand, but I’ve beat them all.
“But yeah, it’s already me. Bisping is finished, it’s me.
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“Respect to him, he done (sic) very well.But it’s me now. I’m here.”
Till's next fight will see him lock horns with two-time welterweight title challenger Stephen Thompson in his hometown of Liverpool on May 27.
Tickets to UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: THOMPSON vs. TILL are currently on sale at the Echo Arena Box Office and Ticketmaster.