Add Darren Till to the list of people who think the UFC is mailing it in right now.
Over the past several years, MMA fans have debated whether the UFC product is dipping in quality. That conversation was given new life this year, when Ronda Rousey ended her decade-long retirement to sign on with Most Valuable Promotions, and, seemingly, to pick a fight with the UFC. For months, Rousey has been railing against the declining quality of UFC cards and the lack of promotion from the company, and another
big-name fighter is now joining in.
On Tuesday, former UFC welterweight title challenger Darren Till also ripped the UFC for the state of their product right now.
“The UFC has gone to shit a bit,” Till told Yahoo Sports. “I’m not happy with it. There’s just nothing there,” Till said.
“I’m sorry to say, the last London event was just f*cking disastrous. The London events when [Michael] Bisping fought, mate — I got knocked out again in London [in 2019], but the atmosphere for that was electric. Like, bar me getting knocked out, the atmosphere was electric. The fight was even good with [Jorge] Masvidal. [UFC] ain’t got that no more. It just hasn’t got that. Do you know what I mean? There’s no life in it. … It means more when the promoter’s behind it and has passion. Dana’s just lost his mojo.”
This has been a common refrain from various people over the past few years, particularly as White has embarked on several new ventures, including PowerSlap, UFC BJJ, Zuffa Boxing, a racing team, and more. And like many others, Till believes that the change is a matter of White simply not being focused on the UFC anymore.
“I do like Dana, but I just think Dana’s ego is getting a little bit too much out of control,” Till said. “I think he’s totally switched off from UFC. I don’t even watch the UFC no more, really. I couldn’t tell you half the people who fight on it. The events just aren’t juicy no more. I think they’ve got very few stars left. And I’m pissed off, to be honest, with the media side of things. Every time Dana’s in a scrum, it’s like these reporters are scared to say the real thing. When they do ask questions, Dana’s all sort of like, ‘Who gives a shit?’
“We give a shit. I give a shit. So give us a f*cking answer, baldy. Take your ego away. I’m sorry to slag him, because I’ll go on one now, but I give a shit. What do you mean, ‘Who gives a shit?’ We give a shit, so give us some f*cking answers.”
Of course, there are a few things that White does still get involved with for the UFC, particularly when the promotion does a big show. That’s the case this summer for UFC White House, possibly the biggest show in the promotion’s history. But even that card has been met with criticism, and for Till, really just encapsulates the whole issue of the modern UFC.
“I look at the card, and it just doesn’t get my juices flowing like the way the other [old] cards [did],” Till said. “The reason the UFC caught up to boxing is because back in the day, you had co-main events like Robbie Lawler [vs.] Rory MacDonald, Conor McGregor, Jose Aldo. The Madison Square Garden fight they done — [UFC] 205 — just the fights back then, they just had a different thing to them. And I just look at the White House now, and I just think, a load of shit.
“I’m not saying anything against them, but Ilia Topuria, Justin Gaethje, just doesn’t interest me. I’m sorry. … Gaethje’s been beat a thousand times. Am I a fan? I f*cking love the guy to bits. I think he’s one of the best fighters ever. I just don’t want to see Ilia Topuria fight Gaethje. I want to see Ilia Topuria fight Islam Makhachev or one of the others. I don’t want to see that. It’s just shit.”
TOP STORIES
MVP. Matt Brown compares Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano to Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson: ‘We’re going to feel like we wasted our time.’
Percent. Jiri Prochazka says he was ‘at maybe 40, 50 percent of my performance’ after Carlos Ulberg suffered his injury.
Relationships. ‘Damn, I f*cked up’: Brian Ortega breaks silence on past relationship with Tracy Cortez.
Penalty. Rose Namajunas cleared after gnarly eye injury, calls for ‘purse deduction’ penalties for eye pokes.
BKFC. Darren Till makes BKFC debut at BKFC 90 next month against Aaron Chalmers.
VIDEO STEW
UFC Vegas 116 Preview.
Aljamain Sterling Fight Camp.
Get ready for this weekend.
Ronda Rousey on TMZ Sports.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
Paulo “Buentello” Costa.
Big Ank.
Negotiations.
This is kinda sad.
One of the craziest moments in MMA history. If you were there, you know.
Man is ready to fight next week.
Sparring.
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Bryce Mitchell (18-4) vs. Victor Henry (25-7, 1 NC); UFC Vegas 118, June 6.
Fares Ziam (18-4) vs. Tom Nolan (10-1); UFC Vegas 118, June 6.
Iwo Baraniewski (8-0) vs. Billy Elekana (10-2); UFC Vegas 118, June 6.
Imanol Rodriguez (7-0) vs. Matt Schnell (17-10, 1 NC); UFC Vegas 118, June 6.
Marcus McGhee (10-2) vs. Jakub Wiklacz (18-3-2); UFC Vegas 118, June 6.
Bruno Silva (15-8-2, 1 NC) vs. Edgar Chairez (13-6, 1 NC); UFC Vegas 118, June 6.
Jordan Leavitt (13-3) vs. Joanderson Brito (18-5-1); UFC Vegas 118, June 6.
Ketlen Souza (16-6) vs. Ariane Carnelossi (15-4); UFC Vegas 118, June 6.
Priscila Cachoeira (13-8) vs. Chelsea Chandler (6-4); UFC Vegas 118, June 6.
Jeisla Chavez (6-0) vs. Yuneisy Duben (6-1, 1 NC); UFC Vegas 118, June 6.
Cory Sandhagen (18-6) vs. Mario Bautista (17-3); UFC 329, July 11.
FEED ME MORE
SAFTA is the only answer.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Personally, I believe the UFC product has never been better. It is definitely not declining due to a lack of competition, which is the inevitable endpoint of all unregulated capital markets. That’s not true at all. The UFC is at its peak right now.
Now, let’s get ready for UFC Vegas 116 in the META APEX, brought to you by PolyMarket.
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