Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream the UFC live on
your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the
ESPN app. Last week’s
Ultimate Fighting Championship headliner has suffered a torn
MCL that will put him on the shelf for a little while. On Thursday,
ESPN was informed by Darren
Till’s coach Colin Heron that Till tore his MCL in his main
event against Robert
Whittaker at UFC on ESPN 14. Till believes that the injury took
place during the second round, to which “The Gorilla” told his
corner between rounds that he could not put weight on it. Till
continued to fight to the end of the fifth round, and lost a
decision to the former champ.
According to Till’s coach, Till’s injury surprised the doctors, who
were in shock that Till could even stand up for the remainder of
the fight. “Torn MCL, doctors are amazed he was able to stand up
for the last three rounds,” Heron wrote. “He is in a cast for six
weeks and then we’ll reassess. Hopefully it will start to knit
while immobilized.”
Due to his injuries, his injured leg has been placed in a cast for
six weeks, and the full timetable for his recovery is currently
unknown. According to the University
of California San Francisco, major tears to the MCL can take
upwards of eight weeks to heal, unless there is damage to the
surrounding tendons as well. This potential layoff time does not
account for physical therapy and getting back to training camp.
Despite the significant damage to his leg from the fight, Till did
not harbor any ill will towards his opponent. On his Instagram, Till
wrote, “What a week! Just reflecting on my chess match of a fight
with rob? Enjoyed the competition, few things I hesitated on and
should have [capitalized]. It was a close close match as everyone
said, you could [have scored] it 3-2 me, 3-2 Rob?”
After Till is able to come back, he wants to fight several times in
rapid succession. The middleweight moved up to the division in
November, when he took on Kelvin
Gastelum and won a split decision to earn a spot in his new
division’s top 10. The shift in weight classes was preempted by a
pair of second-round defeats to Jorge
Masvidal and Tyron
Woodley, with the latter when vying for the welterweight
throne.
Till’s full post reads as follows:
“What a week!
Just reflecting on my chess match of a fight with rob?
Enjoyed the competition,
Few things I hesitated on & should of capitalised.
It was a close close match as everyone said,
You could of gave it 3-2 me, 3-2 rob?
Either way is completely right I feel!
The 5th round the takedowns maybe didn’t count because I sprung
back up each time therefore nullifying them…
But I ain’t crying over spilled milk.
Rob’s a terrific fighter & hats off to him,
We will get it done again.
As for me!
I’ve got some time off from a certain knee from a certain
someone… rob?
I told you all before this fight that I’m just getting started and
I meant it…
I’m going to become the world champion
I’m going to become a legend &
I’m going to become a role model for young aspiring fighters
everywhere.
As soon as I’m back this year I want to fight 2-3 times as quick as
I can…
Thanks for the support, thanks for the hate.
Thanks for everything!!
ADELASAGNE!!! I’ll see you soon boi
Thank you my team, my family & my friends for the support,
Especially @teamkaobon & @mtkglobal
The Gorilla…”