Darren Till understands how distractions can hinder growth in an MMA career. When Till was a teenager, he was stabbed during a fight in a nightclub, causing his coach to suggest he move to Brazil to focus on his fighting career away from distractions. But despite his best efforts to block out all distractions ahead of his welterweight title shot against Tyron Woodley at UFC 228, he may have created one nonetheless.

At UFC 227 last weekend, Till was in attendance and held a media scrum in advance of his upcoming title fight. During the scrum, Till opened up about his mentality heading into the fight, saying that he didn’t really care about his family because he was too focused on his fighting career.

“You can’t have worries outside of this game,” Till told reporters. “I’ve got a girlfriend who’s seven months pregnant, I don’t really care. I’ve got a daughter in Brazil who I haven’t seen for a year, I don’t really care. I just care about legacy and greatness. That’s what I’m in this for.”

Those comments created a minor controversy, raising the eyebrows of a number of fans who took them at face value. But, on the most recent episode of the Obviously Fight Talk podcast, Till addressed his comments and the reaction to them, saying that his statement was misconstrued and he only meant that he was singularly focused on fighting until after UFC 228.

“It’s all about being selfish now until the eighth of September,” Till said. “It’s funny, I haven’t even really read what people are saying but my girlfriend is sitting next to me right now, laughing. It comes to sort of right to stuff like that when my girlfriend is laughing and it’s offending grown men and grown women. That’s just funny s**t. It doesn’t affect them.”

Till doesn’t stop there though. The Liverpudlian goes on to say that his family understands his mentality and supports him and that people making a big deal out of his comments are the actual problem here and don’t understand what it takes to be great.

“Me girlfriend and me daughter, they know what’s what and she was right next to me when I was giving that interview and she was laughing. Some people just need to stop trying to be offended. All right, it might have come out as if I don’t give two s**ts but right now, it’s all about me until eighth of September. I have to be selfish enough. And after the fight, everyone knows, downtime, holidays, going to see me daughter. It’s just people wanting to be offended.

“People just don’t know [what it takes to be an elite fighter]. In five week’s time, all my life’s work will have led up to that one moment. 15 years in the making. I couldn’t have got here without being selfish. I’m working so hard and I’ve had bumps in the road and there were many days where I didn’t - there were some days I couldn’t eat - because I just gave me whole life to this fight and now it’s paying off. People just don’t understand how it works, high level fighting. They look for any opportunity to be offended. It’s just online trolls who just haven’t got a clue.”

Darren Till challenges Tyron Woodley for the UFC welterweight title in the main event of UFC 228 on Sept. 8 in Dallas, Texas.

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MUST-READ STORIES

Lightweight. Dustin Poirier doesn’t believe his fight with Nate Diaz is in jeopardy.

BJJ. Dana White says ‘ground game’ will decide whether or not Greg Hardy is UFC ready.

Comeback. Dana White: ‘Toronto makes sense’ for Georges St-Pierre’s UFC return.

Money. PFL’s new $28M investors include Kevin Hart, Mark Burnett, Tony Robbins.

155. Jose Aldo focused on featherweight belt, but still open to ‘big’ lightweight fight.

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VIDEO STEW

MMA Fighting Live Chat.

BJJ Scout.

Nate playing hardball.

Champ Camp.

Cejudo vs. DJ.

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LISTEN UP

MMA Mad. The final MMA Mad podcast.

UFC Unfiltered. Interviews with Mickey Gall and Big Jay Oakerson.

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SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE

Great video with Till and Perry.

Offer.

I thought we were done with this foolishness.

Dustin unhappy.

Higo statement.

Punch face.

Call out.

Newell responding to Dana’s assessment that he doesn’t deserve another shot.

Tony tries so hard.

That is an interesting crew.

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FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Lisa Spangler (2-0) vs. Shanna Young (4-0); Invicta FC 31, Sep. 1.

Miranda Maverick (3-1) vs. Victoria Leonardo (2-0); Invicta FC 31, Sep. 1.

Aaron Pico (3-1) vs. Leandro Higo (18-4); Bellator 206, Sep. 29.

Misha Cirkunov (13-4) vs. Patrick Cummins (10-5); UFC Moncton, Oct. 27.

Gian Villante (16-10) vs. Ed Herman (23-13, 1 NC); UFC Moncton, Oct. 27.

Thibault Gouti (12-4) vs. Nasrat Haqparast (9-2); UFC Moncton, Oct. 27.

Gavin Tucker (10-1) vs. Andre Soukhamthath (12-6); UFC Moncton, Oct. 27.

Sarah Moras (5-3) vs. Talita Bernardo (5-3); UFC Moncton, Oct. 27.

Joseph Benavidez (25-5) vs. Ray Borg (11-3); UFC Denver, Nov. 10.

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TODAY IN MMA HISTORY

2008: Ten years ago today, Georges St-Pierre defended is welterweight title with a unanimous decision win over Jon Fitch at UFC 87. This event also featured Brock Lesnar’s first win inside the UFC, a unanimous decision over Heath Herring that earned him a title shot. Also, the undercard had the debut of Jon Jones who won a unanimous decision over Andre Gusmao.

2009: Brian Bowles knocked out Miguel Torres to win the WEC bantamweight title at WEC 42.

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FINAL THOUGHTS

Thanks for reading and see y’all tomorrow.

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EXIT POLL

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