Darren Till warns retired fighters may seek unhealthy obsessions after peers' arrests

Former UFC welterweight contender Darren Till said that without a healthy new focus, retired fighters are likely to turn to unhealthy habits. Speaking with Ariel Helwani, Till referenced the recent legal troubles of fellow ex‑UFC athletes: Dustin Poirier, who was arrested for public intoxication and confronting an officer at Atlanta’s Hartsfield‑Jackson airport, and Anthony Smith, who faces felony domestic‑violence and related charges. Till insisted he does not judge them, noting he has behaved worse at times and describing his own fear of “what’s to come” once he hangs up his gloves. He added that he must plan a constructive path for the next three to four years, even as he prepares for a bare‑knuckle bout against Yoel Romero at BKFC 94. The comments highlight broader concerns about post‑career transitions for mixed‑martial‑arts fighters.