DARREN TARGETS FIELD OF DREAMS
DARREN TILL has set his sights on a “legacy fight” with Israel Adesanya at Anfield following his successful middleweight debut.
The Scouser snapped a two-fight losing streak early yesterday morning with a split-decision victory over Kelvin Gastelum in the co-main event of UFC 244 at Madison Square Garden.
Till’s win over the No.4-ranked American has put him in contention for a crack at Adesanya’s middleweight crown.
And the former welterweight title challenger hopes to face ‘The Last Stylebender’ at the home of his beloved Liverpool Football Club.
“I want that fight for legacy,” said Till. “I’ve spoken about Anfield in my hometown and Liverpool Football Club before. That’s a legacy fight for me.”
The prospect of fighting at the home of last season’s Champions League winners excites ‘The Gorilla’, who added: “I get goosebumps thinking about it.”
Till, 26, was afraid to make the walk to the octagon following defeats to Tyron Woodley and Jorge Masvidal, saying: “I was terrified. I wasn’t shaking, but I just didn’t want to go.
“The magnitude of the event – I was doubting myself. I was thinking of ways to get out of the fight.
“Then the first round is over and I’m like, ‘Come on, pull yourself together. Now we’re going to win this fight the way we planned. We’re not gonna let him touch you and you’re going to win it’.”
After picking up his first victory in more than 17 months, Till is confident of facing any challengers UFC match him with.
“I believe I beat them all,” he said. “I do. I truly believe, with the way I know I can train and how my mindset is and my skillset, I can beat them all.”