Few fighters have navigated as many twists as Darren Till. From challenging for a UFC title to asking for his release in March 2023, the Liverpool southpaw has kept fans guessing, and this article tracks his transition to BKFC, his family life, and what his career earnings reveal about the business of fighting.
Age: 33 (born December 24, 1992) ·
Height: 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) ·
Weight: 185 lb (84 kg) ·
Reach: 74 in (188 cm) ·
Fighting stance: Southpaw ·
Professional MMA record: 18–5–1
Quick snapshot
- Exact net worth (MMA Salaries)
- Current UFC ownership percentage of Dana White (Wikipedia)
- Exact payout for Conor McGregor’s next fight (ESPN)
- Exact number of children (some reports say three) (iFann) (MMA Salaries)
- Exact MMA earnings from undisclosed bonuses (MMA Salaries) (MMA Salaries)
- Last UFC fight: July 2022 (ESPN)
- UFC release: March 2023 (Sportskeeda)
- BKFC signing: April 2026 (ESPN)
- BKFC debut at BKFC 90 on May 30, 2026 (ESPN)
- Three-fight deal with BKFC (Yahoo Sports)
Ten facts that define Darren Till’s profile, one pattern: All data points trace a career that peaked in the UFC but found a second act in bare-knuckle.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Darren Till |
| Nickname | The Gorilla |
| Born | December 24, 1992 |
| Age | 33 |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) |
| Weight | 185 lb (84 kg) |
| Reach | 74 in (188 cm) |
| Stance | Southpaw |
| MMA record | 18–5–1 |
| Current promotion | BKFC |
Why was Darren Till released from UFC?
Darren Till was granted a release from his UFC contract in early March 2023 after asking to be let go, according to ESPN. Till said he requested the release so he could focus on his health and recover from injuries (ESPN).
Dana White confirmed that Till asked for his release, and the UFC granted it (Sportskeeda). Till later explained that lingering injuries had affected him for roughly two years before his UFC exit (Yahoo Sports). His last UFC fight was a submission loss to Dricus du Plessis in July 2022 (ESPN).
Till’s UFC exit was not a firing but a mutual parting rooted in chronic injury. For a fighter who once headlined a pay-per-view, the physical toll became the deciding factor.
After leaving the UFC, Till signed a multi-fight deal with BKFC in April 2026 (ESPN). He said in a talkSPORT interview that the financial offer was irresistible (talkSPORT).
The implication: Till’s departure from the UFC may have been necessary for his health, but it also opened a new revenue stream in bare-knuckle boxing.
Does Darren Till have a kid?
Yes, Darren Till has a daughter. According to a secondary profile, he has three daughters, including one named Scarlett Isabella Till (iFann). The mother of his child is Brazilian, which has led to questions about his daughter’s nationality.
Is Darren Till’s daughter from Brazil?
While not confirmed, reports indicate that the mother is Brazilian, meaning Till’s daughter likely holds dual nationality (iFann). Till has not publicly detailed his family life, but social media posts show him with his daughter.
What this means: Till’s personal life remains mostly private, but the Brazilian connection adds a layer of cultural depth to his story.
How much does Darren Till get paid?
Disclosed UFC earnings from tracked sources show Till’s total recorded MMA fight earnings at $926,600 (MMA Salaries). His biggest recorded payout was $245,000 against Kelvin Gastelum. In his UFC debut, he earned $35,000, and his final UFC fight against Dricus Du Plessis paid $211,000 (EssentiallySports).
Beyond fight purses, Till co-founded Blockasset and Blockbet, and founded Gorilla Promotions. His net worth is estimated between $1 million and $2 million (MMA Salaries).
What does Darren Till own?
Till is a co-founder of Blockasset, a sports NFT platform, and Blockbet, a blockchain-based betting site. He also runs Gorilla Promotions, which handles his own fight promotion (MMA Salaries).
Till’s earnings from the UFC were modest compared to headliners, but his entrepreneurial moves suggest he is diversifying his income beyond the cage.
The trade-off: Till’s BKFC deal likely includes a significant base purse, but the exact figures remain undisclosed (talkSPORT).
Who owns 100% of the UFC?
The UFC is owned by Endeavor Group Holdings (formerly WME-IMG), which acquired the promotion in 2016 for $4 billion (Wikipedia). Dana White, the president, held a 9% stake at the time of purchase, but his current ownership percentage is not publicly disclosed as a minority owner. No single individual owns 100% of the UFC; it is a publicly traded company via Endeavor.
Who bought UFC for $4 billion?
WME-IMG (now Endeavor) led a group that purchased the UFC in 2016 for $4 billion (Wikipedia).
Does Dana White still own 9% of the UFC?
It is unclear. White’s current stake is not officially reported, but he is known to be a minority owner (Wikipedia).
The pattern: UFC ownership is opaque, but the big picture is that the promotion is now a corporate asset, not a single billionaire’s property.
Is Dana White a billionaire?
Dana White’s net worth is estimated at around $500 million, making him a multimillionaire but not a billionaire (Wikipedia). The richest person in the UFC is Conor McGregor, with an estimated net worth of $200 million (Wikipedia).
Is McGregor richer than Khabib?
Yes. Conor McGregor’s net worth ($200 million) far exceeds Khabib Nurmagomedov’s estimated $40 million (Wikipedia).
How much is Conor McGregor getting paid for UFC 329?
As of now, McGregor’s reported payout for his next fight has not been officially announced (ESPN).
The wealth gap between McGregor and the rest of the UFC roster is massive, and Till’s earnings are a reminder that most fighters earn far less than the stars.
The implication: For British fighters like Till, the path to significant wealth requires either a championship run or a savvy post-UFC move.
Timeline
- – Darren Till born in Liverpool, England (Wikipedia)
- – Professional MMA debut (Wikipedia)
- – UFC welterweight title bout against Tyron Woodley (loss) (Wikipedia)
- – Last UFC fight – submission loss to Dricus du Plessis (ESPN)
- – Released from UFC contract (ESPN)
- – Signed with BKFC (ESPN)
- – Continued BKFC career; co-founds Blockasset and Blockbet (MMA Salaries)
Timeline signal: The gap between his last UFC fight (July 2022) and his BKFC debut (May 2026) is nearly four years — a long layoff for any fighter.
Confirmed facts
- MMA record 18–5–1 (Wikipedia)
- Height, weight, reach (Wikipedia)
- Released from UFC in 2023 (ESPN)
- Signed with BKFC (ESPN)
- Has a daughter (iFann)
What’s unclear
- Exact net worth (only estimates available) (MMA Salaries)
- Current UFC ownership percentage of Dana White (Wikipedia)
- Exact payout for Conor McGregor’s next fight (ESPN)
- Exact number of children (some reports say three) (iFann)
- Exact MMA earnings from undisclosed bonuses (MMA Salaries)
Quotes
I need to get my body healthy and recover from injuries. That’s why I asked for my release.
— Darren Till, via ESPN
He asked for his release, so we granted it. He’s a good guy, I hope he does well.
— Dana White, via Sportskeeda
I’m 100 percent going to return to the UFC someday. Right now, I’m focused on boxing.
— Darren Till, via MMA Fighting
For British combat sports fans, the takeaway is clear: Till’s future lies in BKFC, but his UFC legacy remains a cautionary tale about the toll of injuries. The choice is either to follow him into bare-knuckle or wait for a potential UFC return that may never come.
civicreport.uk, espn.com, essentiallysports.com, talksport.com, sports.yahoo.com
Frequently asked questions
What is Darren Till’s net worth?
Estimated between $1 million and $2 million, based on disclosed fight earnings and business ventures (MMA Salaries).
When did Darren Till start training MMA?
He began training in his teens and made his professional debut in 2014 (Wikipedia).
How many fights did Darren Till win in the UFC?
He won 8 of his 13 UFC fights, with 5 losses (Wikipedia).
Is Darren Till fighting in 2025?
He is scheduled to debut in BKFC in 2026, but no 2025 fight is confirmed (ESPN).
What weight class does Darren Till fight in?
He fights at middleweight (185 lb) and formerly at welterweight (170 lb) (Wikipedia).
Why is Darren Till called ‘The Gorilla’?
The nickname comes from his aggressive fighting style and his Liverpool roots, where he is known for his strength and tenacity (Wikipedia).
Who is Darren Till’s next opponent in BKFC?
His BKFC debut opponent has not been officially named, but he is scheduled to fight at BKFC 90 in Birmingham, England on May 30, 2026 (ESPN).
Freddie Clarke is Senior Reporter at WordPatch.co.uk, covering writing, language, publishing, books, digital culture and entertainment stories for UK audiences.