Top middleweights are queuing up for the next shot at the title with Darren Till and Derek Brunson targeted to fight in an Aug. 14 headliner.
Till, who was forced out of a UFC Vegas 23 headliner due to a broken collarbone, is in the process of getting medical clearance before the bout is made official. The Aug. 14 event does not have a confirmed city or venue. The bout was confirmed to MMA Fighting by multiple people with knowledge of the booking after an initial report from ESPN.com.
Till’s matchup arrives 10 months after a loss to Robert Whittaker at UFC Fight Island 3. The setback soured a rally in his previous fight, which ended in a split decision over Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 244 to put him back in the win column after a pair of high-profile losses to then-welterweight champ Tyron Woodley and Jorge Masvidal.
Till was scheduled to Marvin Vettori at UFC Vegas 23, but was forced out due to his injury in training. Vettori is now scheduled to take on champ Israel Adesanya at UFC 263.
Brunson, a perennial contender at 185 pounds, is two months removed from a decision over Kevin Holland at UFC Vegas 22. The win marked his fourth straight victory after consecutive losses in bouts against Ronaldo Souza and now-champ Israel Adesanya.
With Brunson vs. Till on tap and another middleweight fight between Paulo Costa and Jared Cannonier set for an Aug. 21, the most impressive winners of the upcoming fights could take the spot behind ex-champ Robert Whittaker in line for a shot at Adesanya.
