#5 ranked UFC middleweight Darren Till fights #1 contender and former division champion Robert Whittaker in the main event of UFC on ESPN 14 on Fight Island this Saturday. Till got darsed by Tyron Woodley in a welterweight shot and then got KOed in Round 2 by Jorge Masvidal. But “The Gorilla” bounced back with a Split Decision win over Kelvin Gastelum in a move up to middleweight.
Now, with a win over Whittaker, via a remarkably improbably path, Till says his next fight has to be a title shot at the winner of champ Israel Adesanya vs. Paulo Cost at UFC 253 on September 19, and there’s an if.
If I beat Robert Whittaker on Saturday night, the only way to go is to the title, said Till on Tuesday at the UFC on ESPN 14 media day. A lot of people say, ‘Well, he’s only had two fights,’ but look at my two fights. This is why for every young fighter out there, or every fighter in the UFC, you shouldn’t turn down fights. You have to take these big risks because they’ll pay off.
I didn’t call for a title shot after I beat Stephen Thompson in Liverpool because I didn’t quite feel like I deserved it. But if I beat Robert Whittaker on Saturday, which is a big ask and a big mountain to climb, the only fight for me is Adesanya, but him and Costa are scheduled to fight. The only fight for me is a title fight.
I beat Whittaker on Saturday and the only name I want to hear come out of people’s mouths is Adesanya. That’s all I want to hear.
The biggest fight it seems, and the fight that everyone wants to see after this fight if I win against Whittaker, is Adesanya. I’ve said I think Adesanya-Costa is a 50-50. I’m slightly leaning towards Adesanya because I think technical ability-wise he’s got a little bit more. But the reason why I say it’s 50-50 it’s because it’s a dog fight — technical vs. brute strength.
Costa can do the five rounds. He’s got the hands to do it, he can take a punch, so for me it’s 50-50. The fight has been built so much between me and Adesanya that’s why I say that, but I could be wrong. … Until I see both guys on the scale, I’m not believing that fight is happening in September. I’m going to stay ready for September. I think there’s going to be a pullout.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlM6mHI9TJk
What do you think UG? Is Nostradarrenus right, will Adesanya vs. Costa fall through? And is a title right with a win over Whittaker?
h/t Danny Segura and John Morgan for MMA Junkie
