Darren Till to headline UFC’s first event in Liverpool after Dublin switch

The UFC announced on Friday that it has moved its planned May 27 event from Dublin to the Echo Arena, with local favourite Till lined up to headline the historic card

Darren Till is to headline the UFC's first event in Liverpool (Getty)

The UFC has announced that it has moved its planned May 27 event from Dublin to Liverpool, with rising star and local boy Darren Till set to headline the fight card.

“This isn’t a fight this is an event, and this is historic for the city of Liverpool,” Till told The Independent shortly ahead of the announcement.

“They will talk about me in 200 years to come. In the future, when people talk about MMA in this city, they will talk about Darren Till headlining the Echo Arena – the first ever person to do it.”

The London based MMA promotion Cage Warriors has staged several sell-out events in the city, with homegrown favourites Paddy Pimblett, Chris Fishgold and Molly McCann all rising to prominence in recent years.

But until now the UFC has never headed to the city, despite holding events in London, Manchester and Glasgow within the past two years.

Till, a 25-year-old welterweight whose prominence skyrocketed when he knocked out UFC veteran Donald Cerrone in one round last October, is set to headline a card that will likely be stacked with local talent, although an opponent is yet to be announced.

Darren Till stunned Donald Cerrone in the first round (Getty)

“Words don’t justify exactly how I am feeling right now,” Till said. “I was pacing up and down my hotel room all night and I even popped open a Peroni when I found out, as a little celebration. This is something that I have worked on for 15 years and nobody else has done it. My name is going to go down in history.

“Liverpool has been a great boxing city and now you are seeing the same with MMA. Scousers have always thrived off fighting and we always get behind one of our own. The scene is exploding and this announcement will make it even more ridiculous.”

The Scouser's stock has risen dramatically over the past 12 months (Getty)

The announcement of the Liverpool card, which will mark the UFC’s 22^nd event in the United Kingdom, was made at the ceremonial weigh-ins ahead of UFC London, which takes place this weekend.

Till was originally thought to be in the running to headline that card only to miss out because of injury. Instead a heavyweight match-up between former UFC heavyweight champion Fabrício Werdum and former Bellator heavyweight champion Alexander Volkov will headline the card, with British prospects Jimi Manuwa, Leon Edwards and Danny Roberts all appearing lower down on the bill.

And Till has admitted that he was initially frustrated to have missed out on the chance to perform at The O2, only for things to eventually fall in his favour.

Fabrício Werdum and Alexander Volkov headline UFC London (Getty)

“It was frustrating because a lot of people expected me to be the main event at London and I really did want to do it,” he said.

“But I feel like it's been a blessing in disguise. I was sick over Christmas and my coach didn't want me fighting, and now look what has happened. This is the biggest announcement in the whole of England. It gives me more time to focus and relish.”

Currently sat at 7^th in the UFC’s welterweight rankings, Till has no shortage of potential opponents and added that he hopes a fight with a fellow top ten fighter can be arranged.

Jorge Masvidal and Stephen Thompson are potential opponents (Getty)

“The UFC have said that it could be somebody in the top ten,” he said of his next opponent.

“Obviously a few guys have fought and a few guys are injured, so they're looking for the perfect opponent. At the end of the day anybody in the top ten would be very good. So if I get somebody in the top ten that would be good, and hopefully soon we get somebody confirmed.

“As for who it could be, I’ve called out everybody. I've called out Stephen Thompson, I've called out Rafael dos Anjos. And maybe even Jorge Masvidal, he is somebody who stays in the shade a little bit. He could be an excellent opponent. Those three there, let's get it on with them.”