Former UFC title challenger Darren Till announced his arrival in Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship in spectacular fashion Saturday night, overcoming an early scare before knocking out Aaron Chalmers in the second round at BKFC 90 inside Utilita Arena in Birmingham, England.
The Liverpool native showcased both his toughness and knockout power, surviving a first-round knockdown before finishing Chalmers just 22 seconds into the second round.
For Darren Till, it was another impressive victory since stepping away from mixed martial arts and further evidence that bare-knuckle fighting could be the perfect fit for his aggressive striking style.
The fight began with a surprising twist. Chalmers, a veteran fighter best known to mainstream audiences for his appearances on the reality television series Geordie Shore, landed a clean left hand in the opening round that sent Till crashing to the canvas.
The knockdown briefly energized the Birmingham crowd and raised questions about how Till would respond in his first appearance inside the BKFC Squared Circle. However, the former UFC welterweight title challenger quickly beat the count and appeared unfazed by the setback.
Till Ends It In Devastating Fashion
Any momentum Chalmers gained from the opening-round knockdown disappeared almost immediately after the second round began. Just 22 seconds into the frame, Till uncorked a crushing left hook that landed flush and sent Chalmers to his knees before he collapsed face-first onto the canvas.
As the referee moved in, Chalmers could be seen shaking his head, signaling he was unable to continue. The official quickly waved off the contest, giving Till the knockout victory. The fight was scheduled for five two-minute rounds, but Till needed less than half of the second round to get the job done.
Following the victory, Till embraced the violent nature of bare-knuckle fighting and suggested the sport fits his personality perfectly. “I was made for this,” Till said after the fight. “I was made for it. I’m a Scouse hillbilly.”
Darren Till admitted he knew he needed to increase his output after the first round and wasted no time doing exactly that. “I said I’ve got to let my hands go in the second and I got it,” Till said.
Despite the knockout finish, Till also made sure to give Chalmers credit for his performance. “Please respect this man. I’ve heard people call him a reality TV star that was years ago. He’s a fighter, he’s been fighting and training with the likes of Leon Edwards. He’s a real man.”
After years of searching for a fresh start outside the UFC. Till may have finally found the perfect stage to showcase his talents.
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Robert LaMar is a Deputy Editor for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
