Issue 169

August 2018

“The Gorilla” did it for his city and Team Kaobon in a weekend of mixed emotions for Liverpool

During an historic May 2018 weekend for the UK city of Liverpool, the Scouse faithful were somewhere between jubilant and devastated. On the Saturday night, their beloved football club lost to Real Madrid in the Champions League final. On the Sunday night, unbeaten hometown favourite, Darren Till took on Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson in the main event of UFC Fight Night 130 and won, although the decision was contested by many in the MMA community.

Till had managed to, almost single-handedly, drag the world’s biggest MMA organisation to the Echo Arena in Liverpool. The city has always had a fierce and strong tradition of mixed martial artists, but until now none has had the sway to force their hand.

“The Gorilla” Till is different. He’s exciting, relentless, and talks the talk as well as he walks the walk. However, he credits those that came before him for giving him his chance in May.

“I think back then, MMA was growing,” he offers, harking back to when teammates such as Terry Etim, Paul Sass, and Paul Kelly were at their peak. “They were unbelievable, I’d go so far as to say they’re better than me, but the difference between me and my teammates, and this is no disrespect to them, is that I believe in myself.

“I believe in myself more than anything in this world, and I manifest it. I knew this was going to happen. I spoke about it. They probably believed it in their own head but were too scared to say it. For me, that’s the difference.”

It’s been Till’s charisma that appears to have drawn many of the old school Kaobon athletes back to the gym. Pictures have surfaced of the Liverpudlian’s full-strength fight camp, with all of the renowned names from the gym’s illustrious past.

They had gone their separate ways and pursued other things, but the hunger that “The Gorilla” shows has brought them back, and reignited a flame.

“I was just this little mad kid back then, wanting to fight with these big UFC fighters. The team split up and they’ve all gone on to live different lives, but I’m still here, seven or eight years down the line, trying to be great, trying to be a champion

“They’re seeing that and thinking, ‘We’ve got to support our little man here.’ It’s for me, it’s for them, it’s for the gym, it’s for MMA in the city of Liverpool.”

Taking on the UFC’s number-one ranked welterweight contender in Thompson not only brought huge prestige to the UFC’s inaugural outing in Liverpool, but gave Till a massive opportunity to put himself right at the top of the division, an opportunity he has graciously (verbally) declined due to the fact he missed weight and the fight had to be held at Catchweight. Something Till broached with ethic and principle as being unacceptable (despite the passion being clearly audible in his voice).

Thompson fought for the title twice – the first contest was a draw against Tyron Woodley, and the second a close decision loss. He’s shown he’s as close to championship material as you can get, without actually having lifted the strap.

Previous champions could barely get past him, let alone finish him, something Till came close to in the 5th round. Till is clearly shaking up the 170Ib category and has his sights set on Las Vegas for his next challenge which is yet to be confirmed. There’s everything to gain for the young Scouser, who did his city proud and is definitely one to watch for the future.