Darren Till defeated Darren Stewart by unanimous decision in the main event of Misfits Boxing 21, held on May 16, 2025, at the Vaillant Live Arena in Derby, England. This eight-round cruiserweight boxing match featured two former UFC fighters going head-to-head in a crossover boxing bout.
Till, a former UFC welterweight title contender, improved his professional boxing record to 2-0 with this win. He started strong by dropping Stewart early in the first round with a powerful left hand.
Throughout the fight, Till used precise counterpunching and footwork to control the ring and keep Stewart at bay. Despite Stewart’s aggressive pressure and moments of success in the middle rounds, Till maintained the upper hand.
The fight ended with a dramatic knockdown of Stewart just as the final bell rang, cementing Till’s victory with judges scoring the bout 77-74, 77-74, and 77-73 in his favour.
Darren Stewart, nicknamed “The Dentist,” is a London-based former UFC and Cage Warriors middleweight fighter. He retired from MMA in August 2024 due to financial struggles and a desire to support his family better.
Stewart finished his MMA career with a record of 16 wins, 10 losses, and two no contests. He has 14 UFC fights with five wins. The boxing match marked his debut in the Misfits Boxing promotion, where he sought a new path to compete after retiring from MMA.
The fight was originally scheduled for a Misfits Boxing event in March 2025 at the Manchester Arena, but that event was cancelled after KSI withdrew from his headline bout. Instead, the Till vs. Stewart fight was moved to headline Misfits Boxing 21 in Derby.
After the fight, Darren Till called out popular crossover boxers KSI and Mike Perry, hinting at future high-profile matchups in the Misfits Boxing scene. Till has expressed interest in continuing his boxing career while keeping options open for a potential return to MMA or joining the Professional Fighters League (PFL).
His recent boxing wins have added momentum to his career outside the UFC, where he last competed in 2023 before requesting his release.
Misfits Boxing 21 featured several other notable fights, including the highly anticipated KSI vs. Dillon Danis main event and title fights in the heavyweight and super middleweight divisions. The event was streamed live on DAZN, attracting a large audience eager for crossover boxing action.
Although the event showcased the rising popularity of crossover boxing among former MMA fighters and social media personalities.