Till On Romero Clash After Years Of Ducking

Darren Till admits he once avoided Yoel Romero but now calls their BKFC 94 matchup in Manchester next month "mouthwatering."

The former UFC welterweight contender told MMA Junkie that his past reluctance to face the Cuban was mostly tongue-in-cheek, though he acknowledged Romero's intimidating reputation. "Obviously he was a scary dude then; he's a scary dude now. I think he's always going to be scary. It's Yoel Romero we're talking about," Till said in the interview carried by BJPenn.com. When the bare-knuckle bout became real, he said, the challenge became impossible to turn down.

Till Sees Romero As Still Dangerous Despite Age

Till is expected to enter as the betting favourite given the age gap, but he's not treating Romero as diminished. The Liverpudlian noted that the 47-year-old still looks unbreakable in his recent BKFC appearances and maintains the physique that earned him lab-created comparisons throughout his MMA career. "He still looks younger than what his age actually is. He's still in amazing shape. He still looks like he can't be hurt," Till said, per MMA Junkie. The task for the Englishman is to prove he can hurt Romero and possibly stop him in front of a home crowd.

Till has already scored one BKFC win since leaving the UFC and is positioning himself as the promotion's next breakout star. Romero remains a legendary figure in combat sports despite his age, making the bout a potential springboard for Till if he can deliver a definitive performance. BKFC 94 takes place in Manchester next month.

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• BJPenn — Darren Till voices excitement at facing Yoel Romero in BKFC showdown