Darren Till Eyes Bo Nickal, Sean Strickland in UFC Return

Darren Till says he wants fights with Bo Nickal and Sean Strickland if he can work his way back into the UFC, but first he has to get past Yoel Romero at BKFC 94 next month.

Till, who left the UFC in early 2023 on a three-fight losing streak, has gone 5-0 since transitioning into boxing and bareknuckle boxing. That run has given the former welterweight title challenger a new lease on his career, and he's using it to talk openly about a path back to the promotion that cut him loose.

What Did Darren Till Say About Bo Nickal?

Darren Till named Bo Nickal as a fight he'd want if he returns to the UFC middleweight division. Asked directly about a matchup with the surging 185-pounder, Till said "What about a Bo Nickal fight? Yeah, 100%," and added that the two have already gone back and forth. He went as far as floating the fight as a potential main event, saying "We could definitely headline a Fight Night if I was to come back."

Nickal has been fast-tracked by the UFC and is regarded as one of the promotion's top prospects at middleweight, so pairing him with a name like Till would carry obvious drawing power even if Till still has to prove himself on the way back in.

Where Does Sean Strickland Fit In?

Sean Strickland is the bigger, longer-term target for Darren Till, and Till was careful to frame it as an eventual goal rather than a demand. He said the stylistic matchup with the UFC middleweight champion appeals to him, "I know me and Sean Strickland, the striker matchup. I know that would be a great fight. I know that deep down." But Till also acknowledged he can't skip the line, saying "There would have to be a lot of fights. I'd have to make my name again and really prove myself. You can't go out there disrespecting the whole UFC roster."

None of this happens without Till first getting through Yoel Romero. The 39-year-old former UFC title challenger is Till's most notable opponent since he left the promotion, and a win would go a long way toward making his UFC comeback talk feel realistic instead of aspirational.

Betting Angle

Till enters BKFC 94 off a perfect 5-0 run outside the UFC, but Romero brings a different kind of danger than the boxers and bareknuckle opponents Till has faced so far. Romero's explosiveness and wrestling pedigree make this a live test even at 39, and how sportsbooks price the fight will say a lot about how much stock the market puts in Till's current form versus Romero's fading physical prime. A clean win here is the whole engine behind any UFC return chatter. Lose to Romero and the Nickal and Strickland talk evaporates fast, since Till himself admitted he needs to string together results before he can justify chasing champions again.

Till was blunt about the timeline he's picturing. "I don't see why in two years I can't be back there," he said. "I'm already getting the buzz speaking to you, which is mad." For now, that comeback runs through Yoel Romero, not Bo Nickal or Sean Strickland.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Darren Till say about a UFC comeback?

Darren Till said he believes he can return to the UFC within about two years and named Bo Nickal and Sean Strickland as fighters he'd like to face once back in the promotion.

Who is Darren Till fighting next?

Darren Till is scheduled to face Yoel Romero at BKFC 94 next month, his most high-profile bareknuckle boxing matchup since leaving the UFC in 2023.

Has Darren Till fought Bo Nickal or Sean Strickland?

No, Darren Till has not fought Bo Nickal or Sean Strickland; both are matchups he has floated as goals for a potential future UFC run.