UFC star Darren Till recently revealed that his penis “stopped working” during a brutal weight cut for a fight. Till, who is currently ranked No. 5 in the UFC’s middleweight division, made the startling admission during an interview with ESPN’s Ariel Helwani.
Till said that he was trying to make the weight for his fight against Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 244 in November 2019. He said that he was cutting weight for the fight and was “moaning every day” because of the pain he was in.
“I was cutting weight and I was moaning every day,” Till said. “My penis stopped working. I was like, ‘What the f*** is going on?’ I was in so much pain.”
Till said that he was able to make the weight for the fight, but he was in so much pain that he was unable to perform at his best. He said that he was “just a shell of himself” during the fight and that he was “just trying to survive”.
Till’s admission is a stark reminder of the dangers of extreme weight cutting in MMA. Weight cutting is a dangerous practice that can lead to serious health issues, including dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, and even death.
The UFC has taken steps to reduce the dangers of weight cutting by introducing the “early weigh-in” system, which allows fighters to weigh-in the day before the fight. This system has been successful in reducing the amount of extreme weight cutting in the UFC, but it is still a problem in other MMA organizations.
Till’s admission is a reminder of the dangers of extreme weight cutting and the need for fighters to be aware of the risks. Fighters should always consult with a doctor before attempting to cut weight and should never attempt to cut too much weight too quickly.