Kamaru Usman, along with all the fight fans looking forward to UFC 219, have simply not had the best of luck. There is no main event, Dominick Cruz is off the card and now Usman’s opponent Emil Meek will not be making it to the card due to a Visa issue. After Usman aired his grievances of multiple opponents ‘ducking’ leading up to the now-canceled fight, it’s easy to see how the surging welterweight is frustrated. Luckily, the game Darren Till has stepped up and wants the fight.
I guess I wasn’t lying… @emilvalhalla for stepping up. Now everyone else can get back to @ColbyCovMMA @darrentill2 @danawhite @seanshelby @Mickmaynard2
— KAMARU USMAN (@USMAN84kg) November 14, 2017
Darren Till had his share of frustrations as well. It was announced he was going to fight Stephen Thompson by Dana White on a card that would be switched from going down in Orlando, Florida to taking place in Liverpool, England. Due to Thompson having an injury, the card will now be moved back to Orlando and the match-up has since been shot down.
Some updates from @ufc … Feb. 24 is definitely on for Orlando. Main event is TBA…and while the desire is to place @darrentill2 in Liverpool next (date TBA), “Wonderboy” Thompson sidelined by UFC 217 injury.
— Lance Pugmire (@latimespugmire) November 14, 2017
Kamaru Usman and Darren Till are both hard-hitting, surging welterweight contenders who are both in difficult positions. They are hovering in the middle of the rankings and have the potential to stop the movement of those below them and upset the top contenders. It makes sense that fighters from either end of the roster wouldn’t agree to fight them, which makes it a perfect booking to just throw these two guys together. One moves on, one sticks behind. This fight game never stops.
This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 11/14/2017.