Darren Till blasted out Luke Rockhold in three rounds to take the Pro bridgerweight title in an all-former UFC fighter affair at the top of Misfits 22 in Manchester on Saturday.
After a career in MMA that saw him challenge for the UFC world title, Till (3-0, 2 KOs) made the crossover to Misfits in January, stopping Anthony Taylor in six rounds. The Liverpudlian was last out in May, dropping Darren Stewart twice on the way to a points win in Derby. Rockhold (0-1) came into this one as a former UFC middleweight champion, and this was his Misfits debut.
The visitor largely controlled the first round, but then went to sleep, and allowed Till to land a jab followed by an overhand left to turn the round on its head.
The 40-year-old Californian was all at sea, and walked to the wrong corner at the end of the round.
Till dominated the second round, and Rockhold did well to survive, but his resistance lasted only one round later, as the 32-year-old poured on the pressure, and a massive left hand bent Rockhold’s legs from underneath him, and the fight was over.
Till called out and confronted former super middleweight world champion, Carl Froch who was watching the fight from ringside.
Ferguson stops Papi on debut
Tony Ferguson made a boxing debut, and the former interim UFC lightweight champion scored a controversial third-round stoppage win against Salt Papi, with the interim Misfits middleweight title on the line.
Papi (4-3, 4 KOs) shaded the first two rounds, before the third saw Ferguson (1-0, 1 KO) get through with some meaty shots, with the referee deciding to intervene in what looked like a premature stoppage.
Mitchell overcomes Hemphill
Ty Mitchell was coming off a stoppage win against Idris Virgo, and he backed that up with a split decision win against Sean Hemphill to take the vacant Misfits Pro super middleweight title.
Scores of 98-95 and 96-94 won the fight for Mitchell (5-2, 3 KOs), against a verdict of 96-95 in favour of Hemphill (19-3, 11 KOs), who previously went the distance in defeat to William Scull.
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Essex victorious on debut
Reality TV star Joey Essex (1-0) debuted, and in a wild fight where both were given standing eight-counts, he took a majority decision win over Numeiro (0-1) in their clash.
Remaining Undercard
Chase Demoor made a fourth defence of his Misfits heavyweight title, halting debutant Natan Marcon in round two of their meeting.
Marcon (0-1) split his lip as Demoor (4-3, 4 KOs) landed an uppercut, and the doctor called a halt to the action.
Carla Jade (3-0-1) defended her Misfits lightweight title, as she dominated in a points win against Daryn Harris (0-1).
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Amir Anderson (4-0, 4 KOs) again won early in his contest against Brazil’s Vitor Siqueira (8-2, 4 KOs), securing the win in the fifth round of eight at middleweight and Rahim Pardesi (1-0, 1 KO) was a third-round stoppage winner against Polish MMA fighter, Amadeusz Ferrari (0-2).
Demi Sims (1-0) was a points winner in her first match against fellow first-timer Nadeshi Hopkins (0-1).
Dillon Danis (0-1) competed in an MMA match, and it took him 16 seconds to force Warren Spencer (1-1) to submit.
