As UFC 319 approaches, excitement is building for one of the most anticipated middleweight clashes in recent memory.
On Saturday night in Chicago, Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev will go head-to-head for the middleweight title, and few voices carry as much insight into the fighters as former MMA star-turned Misfits boxer Darren Till.
Till Compares the Fight to an Avengers Battle
Till, who spent 12 minutes in the octagon with Du Plessis and countless hours training alongside Chimaev, likened the matchup to a superhero showdown. “It will be like the clash of the titans.
I’m an Avengers nerd—this is like Thanos versus The Hulk. Khamzat being Thanos and Dricus being the Hulk, Thanos won the fight,” Till told Daily Mail Sport.
For context, Thanos is a near-unstoppable Marvel villain, while the Hulk is a force of pure strength.
Till’s analogy captures the essence of the bout: irresistible force meets immovable object.
The ‘Smesh Brothers’ Bond
Till has a well-documented bromance with Chimaev, who trains with him extensively, earning the nickname “Smesh Brothers.”
Chimaev remains undefeated and has a reputation for making elite fighters look inexperienced.
Till credits his friend’s mentality and persistence as the key to his dominance.
“It’s his will,” Till explains. “He has an obsession, and I just don’t see how he’s not going to win on Saturday.
He’s very persistent—one of the most persistent guys I’ve ever trained with—and that’s what will get him the win. It’s going to be an amazing fight.”
Grappling Sets Chimaev Apart
While many top fighters are obsessed with training, Till notes that Chimaev’s grappling is what truly makes him a nightmare in the octagon.
“All UFC fighters are obsessed,” Till says. “I used to overtrain, but what separates Khamzat is his grappling.
Once he grabs hold of you, he doesn’t let go. His grappling maneuvers are extraordinary, and that’s what gets him the wins.”
Du Plessis’ Strength and Experience
For Du Plessis, Till has firsthand respect. He lost to the South African in a 2022 bout via third-round submission, a contest that highlighted Du Plessis’ formidable presence in the octagon.
Since then, Du Plessis has won five consecutive fights and defended his title, cementing his reputation as a resilient and versatile champion.
“Dricus is very strong and finds ways to win almost any which way. His presence in the octagon is just formidable,” Till says.
“But I think it’s a 60/40 fight in favor of Khamzat. I can’t see it going the distance. I might even bet on it not going the distance.”
Till Prepares for His Own Showdown
While Till will be watching the middleweight title clash closely, he’s focused on his own upcoming fight.
On August 30, he will face former UFC champion Luke Rockhold in the headliner of Misfits Boxing 22.
“I’m very excited for this one,” Till says. “He’s a wr, I’m a wr as well—let’s not forget that.
The difference is I know I am; he doesn’t actually know!”
Content with Life Outside the UFC
Despite his boxing pursuits, Till seems content with his current career path. “I’m happy where I am right now.
Life is so good—I’ve got my health, great team, managers, coaches behind me, a great girlfriend by my side.
I’m content, but who knows? In a year or two I might make the jump back. Let’s see.”
Party Plans as Aggressive as His Fight Style
Till’s personality shines outside the ring too. While deep in training, he’s already plotting a post-fight celebration involving plenty of beer.
“If I’m not cross-eyed two days later still drinking pints of Moretti, I’ll be disappointed in myself,” he jokes.
“I want to put myself near death—but obviously I can’t die because of responsibilities—wonderful children, a beautiful girlfriend, beautiful friends.
But I want to test it, go as close as I can get.”