Darren Until and Luke Rockhold will meet in a six-round boxing match on August 30 at Manchester’s AO Enviornment. Tensions flared in the course of the official press convention when Until accused Rockhold of utilizing performance-enhancing medicine (PEDs), prompting sharp rebuttals and feedback from former UFC champion Michael Bisping.
Darren Until Slams Luke Rockhold Over PED Utilization
In the course of the July 23 press occasion, Until challenged Rockhold’s integrity, demanding proof of what he described as “juice” utilization. Rockhold denied the declare and urged Until’s remarks have been designed to distract from his personal lack of expertise in boxing. Neither fighter has ever examined constructive for banned substances of their MMA careers.
Michael Bisping addressed the exchange on his podcast, he opened by relaying Until’s accusation “Darren Until accuses Luke Rockhold of being on steroids,” Then dismissed the notion that Rockhold used banned substances. “The truth is, Luke Rockhold’s not on steroids, proper? The person might have executed no matter sport he selected. He’s a high-level surfer, a high-level skateboarder, a world champion combined martial artist. And now, after all, Saturday he’s going to be a boxer towards Darren Till.”
Bisping additionally critiqued Until’s assessment of Rockhold’s profession:
“Darren Until says that he was technical and good again within the day. He was an superior champion, however he’s received no balls and that he runs away in fights. You have been good in Strikeforce and UFC at first. You have been implausible, however you have been technical. You’ve received no balls and also you’ve received no energy. Hear, I knocked him out. Yoel Romero knocked him out after which he misplaced to Paulo Costa. In that combat towards Paulo Costa, I assumed he confirmed some balls. That was a combat that he may very well be pleased with. That was a combat the place he actually bit down on the mouthpiece and confirmed the world what he’s fabricated from.”
Luke Rockhold, a former UFC middleweight champion, will make his skilled boxing debut after competing in MMA since 2011. His solely prior boxing expertise was an April 2023 bare-knuckle bout towards Mike Perry. Till, a former UFC welterweight contender, has gone 2–0 in Misfits Boxing contests this yr, together with a TKO victory over Anthony Taylor in January and a choice win towards Darren Stewart in Might.
The fighters will adhere to a contracted weight of 193 pounds for this crossover event. Rockhold has previously competed as high as 205 pounds in MMA, while Till began his UFC career at 170 pounds. Analysts view Till’s recent boxing experience as an advantage, but Rockhold’s power and reach could prove significant factors.