Till vs. Thompson not official just yet

Late on Tuesday night news broke about UFC on Fox 28 being moved from Orlando to an unconfirmed venue in England so that rising star Darren Till could fight Stephen Thompson in front of a home crowd. However, the news, which came via LA Times writer Lance Pugmire’s Twitter feed, was seemingly misinterpreted.

Lance Pugmire, again , took to Twitter today to apologise for and clear up the confusion with a quote from UFC President Dana White.

Just wanted to correct the schedule info. that @danawhite referred to regarding @darrentill2 last night …

— Lance Pugmire (@pugboxing) November 8, 2017

White said he's pulling Till from the 2/24 Orlando card and moving him in bout against @WonderboyMMA in Till's "hometown."

— Lance Pugmire (@pugboxing) November 8, 2017

While there's a March 17 Fight Night card in London, White specified Till would fight in his hometown, Liverpool.

— Lance Pugmire (@pugboxing) November 8, 2017

Here was White's quote: "So what you do is, I literally switch my whole schedule. I’m laying [stuff] out here I shouldn’t be talking about.

— Lance Pugmire (@pugboxing) November 8, 2017

…. We’re supposed to do this fight in Orlando. I’m pulling it from Orlando and I’m moving it out to his hometown in England."

— Lance Pugmire (@pugboxing) November 8, 2017

Apologize for the confusion on the @darrentill2 matter, obviously a star in the making, which White details in coming @latimessports story.

— Lance Pugmire (@pugboxing) November 8, 2017

Till has been pulled from that card to be booked in his hometown Liverpool. The UFC on Fox 28 card will still be held in the Amway Centre in Orlando, Florida. The quote from Dana White; “So what you do is, I literally switch my whole schedule. I’m laying [stuff] out here I shouldn’t be talking about. We’re supposed to do this fight in Orlando. I’m pulling it from Orlando and I’m moving it to his hometown in England.” From this it can be assumed that Till vs. Thompson is still the fight White and the UFC want to make. And a lot of fans, myself included, are hoping it gets booked sooner rather than later.

That being said, it might not be as close to a done deal as we hope just yet. Earlier today MMAFighting.com’s Ariel Helwani wrote an article detailing a conversation between Stephen Thompson’s coach and father, Ray Thompson, and MMAFighting.com, in which he stated they have not spoken to anyone about fighting Till and that Thompson may be dealing with two broken thumbs following his win over Jorge Masvidal this past Saturday. Ariel Helwani’s full story can be found on www.MMAFighting.com.

This could mean one of two things; Till’s opponent won’t be Thompson after all, or we won’t get the fight as soon as originally thought. If the former turns out to be true we could end up seeing Till fight Mike Perry if Perry can get past Santiago Ponzinibbio on Dec. 16 at UFC on Fox: Lawler vs. Dos Anjos in Winnipeg, Canada.

Either way, we know this is the fight the UFC wants to make and that all signs point to a Liverpool card, hopefully in the first quarter of 2018. One thing is certain; when Till steps into the Octagon in the Echo Arena it is going to be one of the most frenzied atmospheres the UFC has seen in a long time. Apologies for any confusion about the event and fight.