Was Darren Till Actually COMPETITIVE vs Du Plessis?

When Darren Till stepped into the Octagon to face Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 282, fans were divided — was this the comeback of a once-feared striker, or the continuation of a downward spiral?

On paper, it was another loss for Till, who suffered a third-round submission via face crank. But if you only look at the result, you might miss a much more nuanced and — at times — competitive performance. So the real question is:
Was Darren Till actually competitive vs Du Plessis?
Let’s break it down.

 Round 1: A One-Sided Mauling

Du Plessis came out like a wrecking ball, taking Till down early and dominating him with relentless ground-and-pound. The South African landed over 60 strikes in the first round, with Till offering little resistance from the bottom. At one point, the referee was seconds away from stopping the fight.

Till survived, but barely. Round 1 was not competitive — it was a beatdown.

 Round 2: The Comeback Attempt

Then came Round 2 — and here’s where things got interesting.

Till showed flashes of the fighter fans remember from his early UFC run. His striking looked sharp, with crisp elbows, knees in the clinch, and improved head movement. He even had Du Plessis visibly hurt at moments, forcing the South African to reset and breathe heavily.

This was easily Till’s best round, and arguably, a round he won. He stuffed a few takedowns, landed clean shots, and made Du Plessis look uncomfortable. For a moment, it looked like momentum had shifted.

So yes — in Round 2, Darren Till was very much competitive.

 Round 3: The Beginning of the End

Unfortunately for Till, cardio and takedown defense again proved to be his Achilles’ heel. Early in Round 3, Du Plessis secured another takedown. From there, it was déjà vu — ground control, dominant positions, and finally, a submission.

Till tapped quickly to the face crank, and the fight was over. The comeback fizzled out, and the concerns about Till’s wrestling and durability returned.

Final Verdict: Competitive — But Not Consistent

So, was Darren Till competitive?
The answer is: Yes — but only for one round.

Round 2 showed that Till still has elite-level striking and heart. But his lack of wrestling defense, questionable cardio, and inability to deal with sustained pressure continue to limit his effectiveness at middleweight.

Against a relentless opponent like Du Plessis, one competitive round simply wasn’t enough. Till had a moment, but Du Plessis had the fight.

 What’s Next for Darren Till?

This loss marked Till’s fifth defeat in six fights, raising serious questions about his future in the UFC. Afterward, he announced he would be stepping away from MMA “for a little while,” sparking rumors about a move to boxing or a complete career reset.

At just 30 years old, Till still has time — but the clock is ticking.

Final Thoughts

Darren Till did have his moments against Du Plessis, and he showed glimpses of the fighter who once headlined against Tyron Woodley for the UFC title. But in a sport where consistency, adaptability, and well-roundedness are key, flashes aren’t enough.

Du Plessis dominated early and closed the show late. Till may have had a good round, but Du Plessis had the complete fight.