UFC star Darren Till ‘felt fighter’s finger go to the back of his BRAIN’ in horrific eye poke training injury
UFC star Darren Till has revealed the HORRIFIC eye injury he suffered during training camp, describing it as a “finger going to the back of my brain”.
The 29-year-old Liverpudlian will face South African Dricus du Plessis at UFC 282 in Las Vegas on Saturday night.
He has been out of the octagon for 15 months since losing for a fourth time in five fights to Derek Brunson in September 2021.
Till’s career has stalled over the past year after he was forced to withdraw from a clash with Jack Hermansson in July due to injury.
And the Brit was concerned he was going to suffer the same fate for this weekend’s fight when he was on the receiving end of a vicious eye poke during training camp.
Speaking to The Mail, he said: “I was wrestling on the mat, and I shot for a takedown — I don’t know why I’m doing that — it was like the worst thing to ever happen to me.
“The guy’s middle finger, I felt it go to the back of my brain. I actually tried to carry on wrestling. Anatoly [Malykhin] — he just won in ONE Championship there — he was like, ‘Sit down, sit your a** down’.
“It actually got worse as the days went on, and then I was actually worried, I can’t pull out of another fight.
“But then it got better and it’s fine. It was one of the worst eye pokes I’ve ever had in my life, probably anyone will have ever seen. It was really bad when it happened. But it’s part of camp, isn’t it.
“I actually didn’t share it. When I share s***, I don’t think. I’ve had to start thinking a bit more now. I just shared my week of training.
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“I was in the ice bath and stuff like that, and that eye picture was on my phone because I sent it and I was like, ‘Post that.’
“My partner Christian was like, ‘Chael [Sonnen] said you’re posting that to pull out of the fight.’ I was like, ‘What the f*** does that conspiracy theorist know?’ So I don’t know.”
Till is ranked No10 in the UFC’s middleweight division and hopes a first win in three years on Saturday can propel him back into title contention.
Du Plessis is ranked below his British opponent in 14th, but remains the slight favourite heading into the bout.
Till’s countryman Paddy Pimblett is also fighting on the card as he prepares to take on Jared Gordon in a lightweight contest.