As the UFC seeks a replacement for Tyron Woodley, Darren Till may have just made their task far easier.
Initially booked to rematch Robbie Lawler (28-13) in the UFC Fight Night Minneapolis main event, ESPN's Brett Okamoto reports that a hand injury has forced Woodley to withdraw from the bout. With six weeks to find a suitable replacement, the UFC's search has begun but former title challenger Darren Till has already thrown his name into the hat.
Just minutes after the news broke, Till tweeted:
Yes @Ruthless_RL I’ll meet you at 175 in 6 weeks for a tear up
— Darren Till (@darrentill2) May 17, 2019
Yeno wa time it is
Suggesting a 175 lbs catchweight bout, Till (17-2-1) is already seemingly ready to jump back into the octagon against the former UFC Welterweight Champion. After going without a defeat for the first eighteen fights of his career, Till has recently struggled, losing his last two outings. That begun opposite the man he's now looking to replace, failing to dethrone Tyron Woodley and succumbing to a D'Arce Choke instead. Till failed to rebound too, being knocked out in London by Jorge Masvidal.
On paper at least, Lawler enters in similar form himself, also losing two straight. Most recently, Lawler was defeated by Ben Askren, with referee Herb Dean controversially stopping the fight as Askren applied a Bulldog Choke. Lawler maintains that he was conscious throughout but will have to move on regardless, now awaiting a replacement after the Woodley rematch has fallen through.
It's unclear if Till will indeed be that man on June 29th but if he is, this could prove a fascinating clash at UFC Fight Night Minneapolis.
UPDATE: Till's offer wasn't alone, with Santiago Ponzinibbio even responding to the Brit directly.
Bruv, I’ll give you the bail money to come fight me in Uruguay (August 10) after I whoop @Ruthless_RL . You miss weight, back to back losses, knocked out in front of your own people and now you’re picking a new weight class? Spoiled brat.
— Santiago Ponzinibbio (@SPonzinibbioMMA) May 17, 2019
Others threw their own name in the hat too:
Leon Edwards
I know a guy on a 7-fight win streak. That’s down for the tear up gimme that fight @ufc @UFCEurope #StrapSeason
— Leon 'Rocky' Edwards (@Leon_edwardsmma) May 17, 2019
#Platinum #Vs #Ruthless @ufc @FirstRoundMgmt
— Platinum Mike Perry (@PlatinumPerry) May 17, 2019
Bryan Barberena
I’m ready for June 22nd but with the utmost respect when asked who I wanted to fight next Lawler was my answer. So if he needs a fight I’m your huckleberry ---- @ufc @seanshelby #respect #war #bambam pic.twitter.com/JUYX8ogh7w
— BRYAN BARBERENA (@bryan_barberena) May 17, 2019
Belal Muhammad
I can meet him at 171.0 for a tear down -- https://t.co/Kdi33uH2Ng
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) May 17, 2019
Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos
Seven straight wins. My last three opponents didn’t last enough to get me a bonus, but I know Robbie will. @ufc @seanshelby @danawhite
— Elizeu Capoeira (@ElizeuCapoeira) May 17, 2019
Anthony Rocco Martin
@ufc I’m ready to take woodley spot. What a homecoming this would be!! @seanshelby @AliAbdelaziz00
— Anthony Rocco Martin (@TonyRoccoMartin) May 17, 2019
The identity of Lawler's new opponent is still undecided but the UFC certainly doesn't seem without their options at the moment.
