UFC Fight Night 147: 10 memorable moments from the UFC's previous shows in the UK

#3: Till comes home – UFC Fight Night 130 – 05/27/2018

By 2018, the UFC had visited the UK on numerous occasions, putting on multiple shows in London, Manchester and Birmingham and even heading to cities like Glasgow, Newcastle and Nottingham. But despite a rich history in combat sports – most notably boxing – the promotion had never been to Liverpool. That changed last year following the rise of a homegrown Scouse superstar – Darren ‘The Gorilla’ Till.

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After destroying longtime Welterweight contender Donald Cerrone in 2017, it was clear that Till had something special, and so the UFC quickly booked its first show in Liverpool in May 2018, and announced a headliner between Till and former UFC title challenger Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson. But despite Thompson’s superior experience and ranking, this was always going to be Till’s night.

The Liverpool crowd were absolutely rabid for their favourite son, practically blowing the roof off the Echo Arena as he emerged to the sounds of Neil Diamond’s classic Sweet Caroline. And Till made good on all of his pre-fight boasts, engaging Thompson in a tactical affair and edging a unanimous decision following a pivotal 5th round knockdown. With both Bisping and Hardy gone, this was Till’s chance to prove that he could hold the mantle for UK MMA going forward, and he took it with both hands.

About the author

Scott is a veteran MMA writer with over two decades of experience, including his ongoing tenure in Sportskeeda, which began seven years ago. He has written over 3000 pieces for the organization, while also covering football. Before joining Sportskeeda, Scott wrote articles for websites like The Oratory and Inside Pulse MMA.

Scott has a degree in history, which drives his research skills and helps him compile accurate information. His long stint in the field helps Scott provide a clear take on important topics, such as the criticism of promotions regarding fighter pay. While he feels fighters deserve a bigger revenue share, he doesn’t want MMA to suffer with purse-split issues.

Scott’s work has been previously reshared by the former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman. He uses credible sources, such as the UFC’s official website, during the writing process.

His dedication to MMA writing won him the Feature Writer of the Month award for Sportskeeda in November 2021.

Outside of work, Scott likes to go to the gym, walk his dog, and travel.

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Edited by Shiven Sachdeva