“I’m Not Gonna Hate on Izzy”- Darren Till Speaks Out on Relationship With Israel Adesanya

UFC Middleweight Darren spoke to MMA Junkie and shared his views on the divisional king Israel Adesanya and his recent performance. Till had nothing but positive things to say about his most recent performance at UFC 253 on Fight Island. Chiefly, ‘The Last Stylebender’ stomped all over Paulo Costa and earned his second successful title defense in an emphatic manner.

‘The Gorilla’ Till is looking to make waves in the division after falling short in his title opportunity at welterweight. The Englishman is a natural 185-pounder and his move up has opened up new doors. He will be primed to face ‘Izzy’ should he get past top contender Jack Hermansson in their outing for December.

Darren Till raves about Israel Adesanya’s performance

Despite reaffirming the fact that his sights were set on Jack, Darren Till couldn’t help but appreciate the clinic Adesanya put on. Till hails from a striking background himself and the manner in which ‘Izzy’ dispatched his opponent impressed him. Although MMA pundits and fans favored Adesanya, the dominant second-round TKO came easier than anticipated.

“I know when the time comes I’m going to beat Israel Adesanya,” Till said. “Invite the hate, but (I) cannot take nothing away from that performance: utter masterclass, utter confidence. I can take inspiration from it even though we’re rivals. To be able to do that shows a level of maturity that I can do that. Costa just needs to come back, whatever he needs to do. But it was an utter masterclass.”

Moreover, it appears Israel Adesanya’s pre and post-fight trash talk doesn’t bother Till too much. The English fighter believes that he can separate his personal feelings going into a fight and focus entirely on the fighting aspect of his game.

He said, “I’m never going to hate him, or any other fighters. I like to think I’m smart enough to know anything they say or do doesn’t affect my feelings. I’m not really sensitive in that way. I can make jokes about myself, I can make jokes about me family.”

“We’re going to fight”

Darren Till is fired up to make his way into a title shot in his new home at 185-pounds and build upon a legacy. Additionally, he was sure that he would meet ‘The Last Stylebender’ down the road and make a clinical impact in their fight.

“We’re going to fight, whether they want to fight on the streets or the cage, it’s more sensible in the cage, but I’m not going to hate on that person. I’m not going to hate on Izzy because he’s doing well or because he’s got this or he’s got that. I hate him for the fight. If we’re going to fight, yeah I’ll hate him. As a person, as a human being, if you’re a guy that’s hating, you’ve got some serious problems with yourself inside yourself. I can’t hate on anyone, I hate myself.”

The English striker will first have to get through Jack Hermansson, who poses an unknown threat to him inside the cage. Should he scalp a decisive victory over ‘The Joker’, title contention won’t be too far away.