Darren Till to headline MF & DAZN: X Series 22 in title fight vs. Luke Rockhold; former UFC champion to make debut against Salt Papi

On Wednesday afternoon, Misfits Boxing formally announced that MF & DAZN: X Series 22 will take place on Saturday, Aug. 30, from the AO Arena in Manchester, England, live on DAZN. 

The card is being billed as a double main event. In a battle of former UFC stars, Darren Till will take on Luke Rockhold in a Misfits bridgerweight title fight. In the co-feature, former interim UFC lightweight champion Tony Ferguson makes his boxing debut against Salt Papi in an interim Misfits Interim middleweight title clash.

It will be the third time Till steps into the Misfits Boxing ring. Till is 2-0 with wins over former MMA veterans Anthony Taylor and Darren Stewart. On the other hand, Rockhold, a former UFC middleweight champion, will also be making his first foray into boxing. 

Analysis - Fun Fight Card

By Combat Sports Expert Steven Muehlhausen

Looking at these two fights on paper, they should be a lot of fun for however long they last. What should be more entertaining than the action in the ring is what we will get before fight night. The trash talk is expected to be at a fever pitch as all four guys know how to sell a fight, which is going to help ticket sales and attract more viewers. 

Expectations are high for Till. He's coming off two solid wins and has shown more boxing skills each time out. I would have been down on Rockhold after he got violently knocked out by Mike Perry under the BKFC banner in April 2023. However, Rockhold changed my mind when he notched a highlight-reel KO over noted striker Joe Schilling under the Karate Combat promotion in April. Till will have the advantage but Rockhold has shown he can adapt to a new combat sports genre and prove to be successful.

The wild card out of the four featured combatants is Ferguson. Salt Papi is a Misfits Boxing veteran, while Ferguson's never competed in anything outside of MMA. Ferguson's been teasing a move to boxing for a couple of years. Now, Ferguson gets his chance to show the combat sports world he isn't past his prime and needed just a fresh start, as he's coming off an eight-fight losing streak that ended his UFC run.

Salt Papi has the decided advantage coming in. He's used to this realm. He's got the experience, which is key in boxing. That will always be the ultimate trump card in boxing. Papi should win based on that alone. Never say never in boxing, though, as all it takes is one shot to change the trajectory of any fight. 

Usyk vs Dubois 2 only on DAZN

Watch Usyk versus Dubois 2 live and exclusive on DAZN PPV this Saturday - July 19 - for £24.99 UK; $59.99 US; $19.99/equivalent ROW. Buy the PPV now here.