Till warns Romero 'this is gladiator shit' ahead of BKFC 94 main event in Manchester

Darren Till and Yoel Romero squared off for the final time on Friday ahead of their bare-knuckle main event at BKFC 94, with Till delivering a blunt message to his Cuban opponent: “This is gladiator shit.”

Both former UFC stars made weight without issue at the AO Arena in Manchester, England. Romero came in at an even 189 pounds, while Till weighed 188.8 pounds for the highly anticipated showdown scheduled for Saturday night.

At the pre-fight faceoff, Romero kept his message simple and direct. “I come for win,” he told BKFC host Cyrus Fees, though the Cuban veteran appeared visibly irritated when Fees raised the subject of drug testing during the exchange.

Till, making his second appearance in the bare-knuckle format, was more expansive. Despite expressing genuine respect for Romero, “The Gorilla” made clear he believes the unique brutality of bare-knuckle fighting is his domain.

“I respect all fighters that step in the ring, but this is gladiator shit,” Till said. “I’m coming for war. … I’m ready for this shit. Come on.”

The bout marks a significant moment for both men as they continue to rebuild their profiles outside the UFC. Till, who last competed in the octagon in 2021, has spoken openly about finding a renewed sense of purpose in bare-knuckle boxing. Romero, 47, remains one of the most physically imposing fighters of his generation and carries a reputation for devastating power that has followed him from wrestling mats to MMA cages and now to the BKFC ring.

With both fighters visibly energised at the faceoff, Saturday’s main event at the AO Arena promises to be a short, sharp and potentially violent affair.