Darren Till Suffers Torn MCL in Defeat to Robert Whittaker

Mandatory Credit: Jeff Bottari - Zuffa LLC

The victim of multiple calf attacks and a particularly debilitating second-round stomp-come-kick, former UFC welterweight title challenger, Darren 'The Gorilla' Till suffered a torn MCL on route to his headlining loss opposite former middleweight best, Robert 'The Reaper' Whittaker at UFC Fight Island 3 last weekend.

The Liverpudlian noted his inability to "bounce" on his front leg beyond the second frame of his back-and-forth with the Australian, and following an evaluation with a specialist - Till was diagnosed with a torn MCL in his southpaw right knee.

In a text exchange with ESPN reporter, Brett Okamoto - Team Kaobon head-honcho and Till's head coach, Colin Heron explained how Till would be required to wear a cast for a period of six weeks, with the hope his MCL can repair itself whilst immobilised.

"(A) torn MCL, doctors are amazed he (Darren Till) was able to stand up for the last three rounds," Heron wrote. "He is in a cast for six weeks then we'll reassess, hopefully, it will start to knit while immobilised."

Till, 27 - looked to inch closer to a middleweight title tilt with a victory over former gold holder, Whittaker, but suffered his third defeat in four outings in the process.

The Muay Thai practitioner made the move to 185-pounds last November in the co-main event of UFC 244 at Madison Square Garden - taking a close split judging victory over one-time interim title chaser, Kelvin Gastelum.

Making his Octagon bow back in May of 2015 - Till has notched a 5-3-1 promotional record. In highlight wins, Till has finished longtime contender, Donald 'Cowboy' Cerrone, as well as taking a hometown decision win over two-time championship challenger, Stephen 'Wonderboy' Thompson.