Darren Till: The Gorilla’s Garden Gait

Darren Till: The Gorilla’s Garden Gait

By James Lee

As the gorilla’s thunderous journey comes across a significant stumble, the walk will continue to the Mecca. The Mecca of sport. The Mecca of glory. The Mecca for redemption…

A gorilla’s sagittal crest is strong enough to allow them to chew through prey.

Upon entering a combat situation, they will stand with their back straight and beat their chest, to intimidate and prepare for battle. They use their knuckles to walk and for warfare, in a fight to the death.

Darren Till will need to embrace his inner gorilla when he makes the walk on Saturday. He must deter the Mexican blood in front of him whilst aiming to spill it onto the canvas.

To ensure his lightning left connects, whilst simultaneously dodging a reflective image. To leave his adversary with nowhere to escape but a mental plea to the third man.

The Englishman is coming back from his first two professional career losses, the first being a submission loss to then champion Tyron Woodley last September and then a devastating knockout loss to Jorge Masvidal in March. The loss in Dallas was disappointing, but the one in London was heartbreaking.

He lost his inner invincibility when his unconscious body lay inside the O2 Arena, as his Cuban counterpart rallied in the satisfaction of silencing the home crowd.

Many expected Till to be successful in the capital and charge once more towards the welterweight title, but the path has changed.

Changed in the opposite direction, but it isn’t quite clear yet whether that is for the better or for the worse. Only time will tell as he embarks on a new journey this time at middleweight.

But one thing that isn’t in doubt is the huge following he still carries. Reaction to the announcement of the bout proves he has star power that won’t disappear and one that could carry him to champion Israel Adesanya with a stand-out performance.

The fight came with early criticism with some suggesting it wasn’t the right step for his career trajectory, but Till has never been afraid of the biggest challenge. This is the man who moved to Brazil solo at nineteen years of age.
This is the man who chose the most stylistically difficult fight in the division in the biggest moment of his career at UFC Liverpool.

This is the man who fought the division’s dominant champion just six fights into his UFC career. This is the man who fought Jorge Masvidal six months on from his first professional loss. This is the man who begged to fight Kelvin Gastelum in his middleweight debut.

His confidence comes within and is very typical of his surroundings. Combat has forever been ingrained in Liverpudlian society, starting in the 1930’s with Nelson Tarleton when the city had a British champion after he defeated Johnny Cuthbert in October 1931 at Anfield Stadium.

Tarleton, despite only having one lung, captured the imagination of the people; motivating them through a tough period in history. Since Tarleton, Liverpool have had a flood of world class combat sport talent from John Conteh to Tony Bellew.

But now, Darren Till is the figurehead for the city and he is the reward for the foundations set years before. The first wave of Team Kaobon fighters in 2007 inspired many, with Terry Etim being the biggest influence on a young Till. As a teenager, Etim took him for private lessons before he started full time at Team Kaobon.

The inspiration Till found through Etim still lives on with the former UFC lightweight still regularly featuring in his corner. As Etim’s did, Till’s career will inspire the next generation. The fight with Gastelum is the exact reason he will inspire.

Unafraid to take the largest challenge possible at any time which can resonate to people in any form of life.

The ability to say I do what I want regardless of the risk with most suggesting failure is high. That sort of self-belief motivates and attracts fans to religiously follow his every move.

The landscape in this one is different, but it is every time he signs on the dotted line. Another challenge many doubt like previously, but that has never seen him intimidated.

The fight will be a new feeling for Till as he fights without those outside providing the expectancy-to-win pressure. Just the pressure of himself and his desire to prove those outside wrong on all levels.

Sure, his reputation may lower slightly with a loss, but only from those who doubt him now.
But again, that is not how Darren Till thinks. War is on his mind and that mindset is what attracts people to this fight.

Regardless of any result, the fight guarantees excitement and is the one many are most looking forward to.

With all on the card looking to impress on the big stage, Till doesn’t need to. He will want to, but he doesn’t need to. He has what every fighter salivates for.

Hundreds of thousands that support him and thousands that will travel for him anywhere he goes. New York is the next step for the travelling English this weekend.

The Neil Diamond classic in the ‘Big Apple’ will reminisce the feeling prior and reignite his initial spark and mystique that carried him to eventing in his hometown in just his fifth UFC appearance.

Back to the days when his playful execution of Bojan Velickovic thrilled masses and his contrasting vicious destruction of veteran Cowboy Cerrone poured him onto Dana White and the community’s radar as the rightful future of the welterweight division.

Now a new spark could be lit in the year’s blockbuster event with a blockbuster performance. When the gorilla marches in the Garden, he must make it his own.

To confidently strut into the world’s most dangerous combat arena ready for war.

Ready as ever on the trail to establishing himself as the best hominidae marching planet earth.