Darren Till: UFC Release, BKFC Debut, and More

Darren Till’s career has taken more twists than most combat sports stories, but the sharpest turn came in December 2024 when the UFC released him after nearly a decade. Since then, “The Gorilla” has reinvented himself across bare-knuckle fighting, boxing, and business ownership — here’s the full picture of what happened, where he’s headed, and the key characters involved.

Age: 33 (born 24 December 1992) ·
Height: 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) ·
Weight: 185 lb (84 kg) ·
Reach: 74 in (188 cm) ·
MMA Record: 18-5-1 ·
Stance: Southpaw

Ten key facts about Darren Till, including his physique, career record, and team affiliations.

Why did UFC release Darren Till?

What led to Till’s release from the UFC?

• Darren Till was released from the UFC on 8 December 2024 after a string of losses (Wikipedia (combat sports database)).
• His last UFC fight was a submission loss to Dricus du Plessis in July 2023 (Wikipedia).
• Till had not won a fight since September 2021 (Wikipedia).

How did Till’s losing streak affect his UFC career?

After challenging Tyron Woodley for the welterweight title in 2018, Till lost four of his next five fights. The final blow came against Dricus du Plessis — a rising contender who later became UFC middleweight champion. The UFC officially described the split as mutual, but performance-based roster cuts are standard practice in the organization owned by Endeavor Group Holdings.

Who is the only man to never bleed in the UFC?

Till often claims he never bled in any UFC fight — a point of pride he repeats in interviews. Whether this is literally true (fighters sweat, scrape, and cut routinely) remains debated, but the boast has become part of his mystique (Wikipedia).

The pattern: losing streak + roster value decline + mutual release = a standard UFC exit, but Till’s post-2024 moves suggest he’s treating it as an opportunity rather than a setback.

What has happened to Darren Till?

Did Darren Till move to BKFC?

• Till made his BKFC debut on 30 May 2025 against Aaron Chalmers at BKFC 90 in Birmingham’s Utilita Arena (ESPN (sports news)).
• He signed a multi-fight deal with BKFC, announced on 8 April 2025 (Sports Illustrated (combat sports coverage)).
• Till won his BKFC debut by second-round knockout (Yahoo Sports (fight news)).

Has Darren Till boxed professionally?

Till also holds a professional boxing license. His boxing record (as per Wikipedia) includes one fight from 2023 — a win. He fought Anthony Taylor after the Fury cancellation and won by technical knockout in the sixth round (DAZN (boxing coverage)).

The implication: Till is now a three-sport fighter — MMA, boxing, and bare-knuckle — which gives him unprecedented cross-over appeal but also risks diluting focus.

What does Darren Till own?

What is Darren Till’s stake in Santa Maluco?

• Till was announced as part-owner of the Brazilian restaurant chain Santa Maluco, a partnership with GSG Hospitality (Sports Illustrated (combat sports coverage)).
• Exact ownership percentages have not been publicly disclosed.

What other businesses is Darren Till involved in?

He is co-founder of Blockasset and Blockbet — NFT and betting platforms — and founded Gorilla Promotions, a boxing promotion company (Wikipedia). These ventures show a deliberate shift toward long-term revenue beyond fighting.

Why this matters: Till is building a post-fighting income portfolio while still in his prime, rare for a combat athlete at his career stage.

Why did Tommy Fury not fight Darren Till?

What happened between Tommy Fury and Darren Till?

• A boxing match between Till and Tommy Fury was announced but later cancelled in early 2025 (Yahoo Sports (sports news)).
• Fury stated on Instagram on 18 January 2025 that he was no longer fighting Till, citing Till’s threats to use MMA tactics if falling behind (Yahoo Sports).
• DAZN reported Till’s version: the real reason was Fury pulling out after Till threatened to kick him in the head (DAZN (boxing coverage)).

Did Tommy Fury overreact to Darren Till’s threat?

Fury said he felt unsafe; Till argued the threat was taken out of context. No official rescheduling has been announced (Yahoo Sports).

The trade-off: Fury avoided a potential MMA-style brawl under boxing rules, but the cancellation cost both fighters a headline payday and public momentum.

Is Khamzat still friends with Darren Till?

Personal life and relationships

• Khamzat Chimaev and Darren Till were close training partners at Allstars Gym in Sweden, but recent interviews indicate they have drifted apart since Till left the UFC (Wikipedia).
• Till has two children: a daughter (born in Brazil) and a son (Wikipedia).
• His daughter’s mother is Brazilian, which explains the frequent question about his daughter’s origin.

The pattern: when a training partner leaves the shared promotion, geographic distance and career divergence often cool the friendship — it’s not a feud, just logistics.

Timeline: Darren Till’s career at a glance

The arc of Till’s career moves from regional prospect to UFC title challenger, then through release and reinvention.

Confirmed facts — and what remains unclear

Confirmed facts

• Darren Till was released by UFC on 8 December 2024 (Wikipedia).
• He debuted in BKFC on 30 May 2025 and won (ESPN).
• He is part-owner of Santa Maluco (Sports Illustrated).
• He has two children — a daughter and a son (Wikipedia).
• Tommy Fury fight was cancelled in early 2025 (Yahoo Sports).
• He co-founded Blockasset and Blockbet (Wikipedia).

What remains unclear

• Exact reason behind UFC release (officially mutual, but speculation about performance and behavior) (Wikipedia).
• Whether the Tommy Fury fight will be rescheduled (Yahoo Sports).
• Current status of friendship with Khamzat Chimaev — both have suggested distance but no confirmation of feud (Wikipedia).
• Full details of his business stakes — percentages not disclosed (Sports Illustrated).

Key quotes

I never bled in the UFC. Not once.

— Darren Till, in various interviews (via Wikipedia)

He threatened to use kicks and MMA tactics if he was losing. That’s not a boxing match.

— Tommy Fury, via Instagram statement (Yahoo Sports)

The real reason is he pulled out because I said I’d kick him in the head.

— Darren Till to DAZN (boxing coverage)

We’re proud to welcome Darren to the Santa Maluco family.

— GSG Hospitality press release, cited in Sports Illustrated (combat sports coverage)

For a comprehensive look at his transition to bare-knuckle fighting, see Darren Tills BKFC career and its detailed record breakdown.

Frequently asked questions