Welterweight Darren Till appeared recently on The TSN MMA Show and discussed the fan reaction when it was announced that he’s fighting Stephen Thompson in the main event of UFC Fight Night 130 on May 27. ‘The Gorilla’ from Liverpool has never lost in 17 fights, and won a performance bonus in two of his last four bouts. The UFC media machine is beginning to turn the spotlight on him. But like Francis Ngannou and Paige VanZant have discovered, that can have negative consequences.

Mate, I can tell you right now that 90% of people can’t wait for me to lose on May 27 to Wonderboy, they want the so-called hype train to stop, said Till, as transcribed by Jim Edwards for MMANytt. I can’t tell you how many happy faces there are going to be if I get beat, but do you think I give a f*** about them? I couldn’t give a f*** about what anyone thinks, what my Mum thinks, what anyone.

I’m putting in the hard work and putting my body through pain and pressure, so if people want to see me lose, ok, if people want to see me win, ok, it doesn’t matter as long as they tune in to see an absolute war.

Wonderboy has beaten everyone, so if I beat him, obviously it looks like I’m in line for a title shot, but I’m not really bothered if the UFC book it or they don’t. There are other guys that deserve it before me, so I just want to beat Wonderboy and let the welterweight division take it’s course because sooner or later I know it’s going to end up with me having the belt.

When I beat Wonderboy I feel like I want to take on Colby, Usman, RDA, Masvidal, one of those guys. When I beat Wonderboy those are the guys that I’m looking at next.

All the guys I’ve called out are real, hard guys. At the end of the day, in order to be the best in the world, you have to fight the best. Those guy are the best so they’re all in my sights. They’ve got a target on their back.

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