At a BKFC 94 press conference in Manchester on August 4, former UFC contender Darren Till told Bloody Elbow he expects Khamzat Chimaev to land an immediate rematch with middleweight champion Sean Strickland and believes a trilogy could follow. Till, who trained alongside Chimaev in the past, offered his take on the surprising title outcome in Newark and the future possibilities for ‘Borz’.
Darren Till backs rematch and potential trilogy
Speaking shortly before his BKFC showdown with Yoel Romero, Till said he was convinced the UFC would arrange a second meeting between Chimaev and Strickland. “Yeah, I think he will [get the rematch],” Till said. “I think it’ll be a massive fight and I think he gets the win and they potentially might end up having a trilogy.” His comments follow Strickland’s reported change of heart on granting an immediate rematch after their clash in May.
Chimaev’s weight-class considerations
Despite talk that Chimaev is preparing to move up to light heavyweight after losing his middleweight title, Till argued that the rematch would keep him at 185lb long enough to settle unfinished business with Strickland. Till noted that the unexpected title change in Newark could prompt the UFC to revisit the pairing before any shift in division takes place.
Till dismisses controversy over fallout
Till was also asked about the reported camaraderie between Chimaev and Strickland prior to their first bout, which some believe diluted the rivalry. “It’s just fighting though isn’t it,” he said. “It’s just the way it is.” The former UFC contender suggested that such dynamics are part and parcel of high-stakes combat sports.
As Chimaev assesses his next move, Till’s prediction of a rematch – and possibly a trilogy – adds another layer of intrigue to the middleweight division.
FAQ
Will Khamzat Chimaev get a rematch with Sean Strickland?
According to Darren Till, the UFC is likely to grant Chimaev an immediate rematch with Strickland after their title fight in May, given the surprising outcome and fan interest.
Could their rivalry extend to a trilogy?
Till believes that if Chimaev wins the rematch, the promotion may book a third fight to conclusively settle the rivalry between the two middleweight stars.
When and where did Till share these comments?
Till spoke to Bloody Elbow on August 4 at the AO Arena in Manchester, just before his first press conference for BKFC 94 against Yoel Romero.
What did Till say about the fallout from Chimaev’s first loss to Strickland?
He downplayed any controversy surrounding the fighters’ apparent goodwill before the match, stating simply, “It’s just fighting though isn’t it. It’s just the way it is.”
