UFC: Darren Till says he’s fighting Israel Adesanya if he beats Robert Whittaker ‘and that’s all there is to it’
- ‘I don’t want to hear any name come out of anybody’s mouth other than Israel Adesanya,’ says Till
- Englishman fights former champ Whittaker in UFC Fight Island 3 main event in Abu Dhabi on Sunday
Sunday’s UFC Fight Island 3 main event against Robert Whittaker may just be Darren Till’s second foray into the promotion’s middleweight division, but his message is clear.
“If I win, I’m fighting Israel Adesanya and that’s all there is to it,” the Liverpudlian told a virtual media day on Tuesday in Abu Dhabi.
The 27-year-old former welterweight Till (18-2-1) said he is “growing into” the 185-pound division after an impressive first outing against Kelvin Gastelum (16-6, one no contest) last November, earning a split decision at Madison Square Garden.
Gastelum, though, was submitted in just 78 seconds by Jack Hermansson last Sunday on Fight Island. “The Joker”, ranked one place below Till at No 6, then called for the winner of this weekend’s headliner. It’s fair to say Till is having none of it.
“All these guys calling my name, we’re probably gonna meet some day, I’m not avoiding you,” Till said. “But I’m looking forward. If I beat Whittaker, I don’t want to hear any name come out of anybody’s mouth other than Israel Adesanya.”