Darren Till reminded fight fans of his finishing instincts on Saturday night, scoring a thunderous third-round knockout over Luke Rockhold in the main event of Misfits Boxing 22 at Manchester’s AO Arena.
The 32-year-old Liverpool native dropped Rockhold early and never let up, eventually folding the former UFC champion backward with a vicious combination that ended the fight at 1:08 of Round 3. With the victory, Till captured the Misfits bridgerweight championship and extended his unbeaten boxing record to 4-0.
Rockhold Struggles to Withstand Till’s Pressure
Rockhold, making his professional boxing debut at 40 years old, entered the bout with confidence after mixed results in bareknuckle and Karate Combat. He started strong, using his jab to keep Till at distance, but cracks in his defense began to appear as the first round closed. Till’s signature left hand broke through twice, nearly ending the fight before the bell.
By Round 2, Rockhold was visibly slowing. He continued backing into corners and leaving openings for Till, who piled on pressure and power shots. The decisive moment arrived in the third round when Till unleashed a crushing left hand that folded Rockhold violently against the ropes, leaving the referee no choice but to wave it off.
Michael Bisping Reacts to His Rival’s Defeat
Former UFC champion Michael Bisping, who twice fought Rockhold in the Octagon, streamed his live reaction to the knockout:
Boom! Luke Rockhold is down, and he is fast asleep. He’s out cold. […] I called it… As soon as this fight was announced, I had Darren Till all day. Sad to see, though. I don’t like watching anyone get knocked out like that, especially so many times.
The reaction reflected the concern shared across the combat sports community, with many urging Rockhold to consider retirement following another devastating knockout.
Darren Till Calls Out Boxing Legend Carl Froch
Fresh off his highlight finish, Till wasted no time in calling for bigger fights. The brash Scouser set his sights on British boxing legend Carl Froch, challenging him in the ring after the bout.
Whether Froch entertains the idea remains to be seen, but Till has made clear that his future lies inside the boxing ring after leaving MMA behind in 2023.
Rockhold’s Career at a Crossroads
For Rockhold, the knockout raises questions about his future. The former Strikeforce and UFC middleweight champion has now suffered knockout losses in bareknuckle boxing and Misfits Boxing, despite a brief rebound with a Karate Combat win in 2024.
His most recent knockout was his first flush KO defeat since falling to Jan Blachowicz at UFC 239 in 2019. At 40, with multiple combat sports experiments behind him, Rockhold may be running out of options to reinvent himself.
A Stacked Night of Misfits Chaos
Darren Till’s win capped a loaded Misfits Boxing 22 card that featured multiple shocking moments:
- Tony Ferguson stopped Salt Papi in Round 3 to claim the interim Misfits middleweight title, snapping an eight-fight skid.
- Dillon Danis submitted Warren Spencer in just 15 seconds in the promotion’s first MMA bout.
- Ty Mitchell, Carla Jade, and Chase DeMoor all walked away with championship belts in their divisions.
The night showcased Misfits’ signature mix of former UFC stars, influencers, and crossover fighters, delivering plenty of highlight finishes.
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Also read: Tony Ferguson Secures Redemption with TKO Win Over Salt Papi at Misfits Boxing 22
