Darren Till makes 'intimidating' Yoel Romero admission ahead of bare-knuckle showdown seven years in the making

Darren Till has explained the dangers of competing in bare knuckle boxing as he gears up for a mouthwatering main event with fellow former UFC star Yoel Romero.

Till and Romero never fought inside Octagon despite a call out from 'The Gorilla' as the timing never aligned.

But seven years on and the pair will lock horns in a bare knuckle bout at BKFC 94, headlining the card at Manchester's AO Arena on Saturday night.

Darren Till relishing 'gladiator' encounter with Yoel Romero in Manchester

Till has been on a strong run since his exit from UFC. After a spell in boxing with Misfits, he knocked out Aaron Chalmers in the second round of his debut for BKFC in May.

Expressing his excitement for the fight against Romero following a 10-12 week camp, Till said: “I think it's the purest form of combat. Obviously, there's no gloves involved and stuff like that. So it's probably like, how they used to do it 2,000 years ago, gladiator s***!

“I live for that stuff as well. I'm a fighter too, I always have been.

“I feel like I was put on the earth to be a fighter. I've never done anything else in my whole entire life.

“And it's a big challenge for me as well. I think the bigger the challenge, I think the more excited you get inside.”

Till and Romero will meet at cruiserweight inside the circular ring, with no gloves but permission to wrap and tape the wrist, thumb and mid-hand.

All punches must be with closed fists and in the same rules as boxing, knockdowns see fighters given 10 seconds to stand up.

While these rules are designed to limit risk of serious injury, Till is well aware of the danger and chaos he has signed up for.

“I think you have to be careful," he said on approaching his second BKFC fight.

"I think anyone's got the potential to knock you out, hurt or cut you.

“I think you have to go into these bare knuckle fights with caution, with a game plan and with a strategy.

“I don't think you just go in here thinking you're just gonna knock someone out or something like that.

“It can happen, but I think you do have to look at these fights and do these fights, when you're in your camp or when you're going in there meticulously. And that's where all your drilling and stuff from camp goes into it.

“It’s dead easy, you work on it in camp and it’ll pull off in the fight.”

READ MORE: Conor McGregor gives 'holy s***' verdict after Darren Till and Yoel Romero presser showdown

Darren Till previews exciting showdown with perfect 'dance partner' Yoel Romero

Till knocked out former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold in a boxing bout back in August 2025 in Manchester and now returns to the same city.

This time, however, he goes up against the man they call 'The Soldier of God'. With an innate intensity, 49-year-old veteran Romero brings a whole new level of legitimacy to proceedings.

“You couldn't have found a better dancing partner than Yoel," Till admitted.

“He’s been known well throughout the years, how strong he is, knockout power, he's a big, strong guy, he's intimidating.

“For me, again, it just excites me. It's the purest form of fighting and me and him are gonna get it on Saturday night, five, two minute rounds. It's gonna be a hell of a fight.”

Though there is a mutual respect between both fighters, the competition already kicked off at the face-off. No doubt a tense stare-down will ensue at the final weigh-in.

Till said: “I think it's a man off, isn't it? No one wants to look away. No one wants to be the losers.

“You know, us men, we have big, big egos, don't we? So I think that's what it ultimately comes down to. And I'm not gonna say he was scared or I was scared.

“We just both didn't wanna be the loser.”

Till may no longer be contracted to the UFC and chasing world championship glory but Saturday's bout is one that he views as a career highlight and an experience he will look back on with fondness in the future.

Till stated: “I can't wait to do it. It's going to be a hell of an energy for me.

“We're near enough a home crowd, Manchester's 30 minutes from Liverpool.

“I think everyone's going to be there and supporting myself and a lot for Yoel. It's going to be a memorable night.

“It'll be something I'll be able to talk about in 20 years when no one gives a f*** about me.

“I'll be able to just tell everyone, ‘I did that’, when I'm talking in pubs and, trying to be remembered.

“It’s a legacy fight.”