The Ultimate Fighting Championship show will have to go on without one of its best-known native sons later this month in London.
ESPN reported Wednesday evening that Liverpool native Darren Till, a former welterweight title challenger and current middleweight contender, had withdrawn from his scheduled co-main event against Jack Hermansson at UFC Fight Night 208 on July 23 with an undisclosed injury. The fight for Till would have been his first since last September, when he succumbed to a rear-naked choke from Derek Brunson in the headliner of UFC Fight Night 191. The 28-year-old Team Kaobon product will have to wait at least a while longer to attempt to snap his current two-fight losing streak.
The report added that the early favorite to step in and take Till's place was Chris Curtis, the Bellator MMA and Professional Fighters League welterweight who has experienced a career revival since moving up to 185 pounds and debuting in the UFC with three straight wins.
UFC Fight Night 208, also nicknamed "UFC London," takes place on July 23 at O2 Arena in London, England. A heavyweight tilt between top contender Curtis Blaydes and surging undefeated Brit Tom Aspinall is set to headline a 13-fight card heavily stocked with UK and other European fighters.
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