By Josh Sanchez

The UFC's busy 2018 schedule continued on Sunday, with UFC Fight Night 130 live from the Echo Arena in Liverpool, England. In the main event, top welterweight contenders Stephen Thompson and Darren Till faced off. 

Despite some weigh-in controversy and plenty of drama surrounding the Liverpool native, Till was able to weigh in under 188 pounds on fight day to give the fight the green light under special conditions set by Thompson’s camp. For missing weight at the official weigh-ins, however, Till forfeited 30 percent of his purse. 

In the co-main event, Neil Magny faced off against Craig White. 

To kick off the marquee bout, both Thompson and Till were feeling out their opponents with feints and movement around the cage. Both men showed respect to their opponent and were hesitant to pull the trigger. 

Outside of some leg kicks and lead left counters from Wonderboy, there was little action through the first five minutes. In Round 2, Till was more willing to push forward while Thompson was playing the counter game and looking to set a trap for the Liverpool native. Till, however, was reading the head kicks well and avoided taking any major damage.

Till was trying his best to control the cage and to force Thompson’s back against the fence, but Wonderboy’s slick movement allowed him to continue circling and avoid danger. While Till was stalking Thompson, the Liverpool favorite was not able to let his power go. An eye poke temporarily halted the action. 

After the restart, Till unleashed a wild attack, throwing heavy leather and mixing in a spinning backfist. Unfortunately for Till, nothing landed clean. 

In the championship rounds, Till was finally able to get his hands on Thompson. Till clinched Thompson briefly against the cage, but the former title contender was able to escape and return to the center of the cage. After much of the same in the final frame, Till generated some excitement with a heavy left hand that dropped Wonderboy. After a scramble, Thompson returned to his feet and fired back with a 1-2. 

We then went to the judges, where till earned a unanimous decision victory. .

Full UFC Fight Night 130 Results

MAIN CARD

• Darren Till def. Stephen Thompson via decision (48-47, 49-46, 49-46)

• Neil Magny def. Craig White via TKO (knee, punches) – Round 1, 4:32

• Arnold Allen def. Mads Burnell via submission (front choke) - Round 2, 2:41

• Makwan Amirkhani def. Jason Knight via split decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)

• Claudio Henrique da Silva def. Nordine Taleb via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 4:31

• Darren Stewart def. Eric Spicely via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 1:47

PRELIMINARY CARD 

• Tom Breese def. Daniel Kelly via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 3:33

• Lina Lansberg def. Gina Mazany via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

• Carlo Pedersoli Jr def. Brad Scott via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)

• Gillian Robertson def. Molly McCann via technical submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 2:05

• Elias Theodorou def. Trevor Smith via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)