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Darren Till can crown historic sporting weekend in Liverpool with victory over Stephen Thompson

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When Darren Till makes his walk to the octagon on Sunday night, Liverpool fans will know if they have achieved Champions League glory.

As Till steps into the ring, hell know if he is competing to crown a historic sporting weekend in his hometown, or fighting to salvage some dignity for his city.

Jurgen Klopp and his Liverpool stars will go toe-to-toe with European giants Real Madrid on Saturday night in Kiev. An entire city will hold its breath and Tills eyes, along with every other Merseysider at home and abroad, will be glued to the TV screen.

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Less than 24 hours later Till will headline the UFCs first ever event in Liverpool at the Echo Arena. The 25-year-old takes on No.1 welterweight contender and two-time title challenger Stephen Thompson. Not unlike Liverpool vs Real Madrid, the clash seems a mismatch on paper.

Till himself has described himself as a football traitor. He switched allegiances from Everton to Liverpool as a six-year-old, his father had been an Everton supporter. He admits his mother would definitely be able to produce a picture of him kitted out in Everton colours.

I will watch the Champions League [final] on Saturday, Till told MMAnytt. Ill be buzzing. Ill be on a high whatever happens, if we win or lose. Then Sunday is my night.

GDANSK, POLAND - OCTOBER 21: Darren Till of England stands in the Octagon prior to his welterweight bout against Donald Cerrone during the UFC Fight Night event inside Ergo Arena on October 21, 2017 in Gdansk, Poland. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) — Till fights Stephen Thompson in Liverpool (Picture: Getty)

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Another Scouser, Molly Meatball McCann, will be the first Liverpool-born fighter to enter the cage on Sunday. The former Cage Warriors flyweight champion will have the chance to become the first Scouser to win a UFC fight on home soil.

McCann is still just a silhouette on the UFCs website, her image yet to be filled in, but beat Gillian Robertson in front of 11,000 Scousers and she will be forever remembered. McCann credits Till with helping to forge her path towards a special night in Liverpool.

Without Till and his stunning knockout of Donald Cowboy Cerrone last October, the UFC would have never come to Liverpool. Till has big ambitions for himself, claiming Thompsons scalp could fire him into title contention.

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, right on the end, celebrates scoring his side's first goal with his teammates in front of their fans during the Champions League quarterfinal second leg soccer match between Manchester City and Liverpool at Etihad stadium in Manchester, England, Tuesday, April 10, 2018. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira) — Liverpool take on Real Madrid in the Champions League final (Picture: AP)

Darren Till ready to crown Liverpool's dream sporting weekend — (Picture: Getty)

My goal is to be the best, Till told Metro.co.uk. I want to prove that. Making an easier route to the title with just a few fights is not what I want to do.

I want to beat everyone. I want to fight for the title, obviously, but I want to beat everyone. Whether Im a champion beating everyone or a contender, I just want to beat everyone to prove Im the best.

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With the retirement of veteran Michael Bisping, there is an opening for the UKs biggest star. Till will hope to step into that void this weekend. So desperate is the UK faithful for a star, it seems unimportant if Till wins or not. Till is still the most exciting and mouthy British fighter on the UFCs pay roll.

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, left, celebrates scoring his side's first goal with Liverpool's Roberto Firmino during the Champions League quarterfinal second leg soccer match between Manchester City and Liverpool at Etihad stadium in Manchester, England, Tuesday, April 10, 2018. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira) — Mohamed Salah has been Liverpools talisman this season (Picture: AP)

MADRID, SPAIN - APRIL 11: Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring his sides first goal during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Second Leg match between Real Madrid and Juventus at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on April 11, 2018 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images) — Real Madrid has Ballon dOr winner Cristiano Ronaldo in their side (Picture: Getty)

Striking will take center stage in the headline event. Till is an accomplished and dangerous striker. Thompson has proven himself to be as unpredictable as he is masterful in the art of striking. The fight may be decided not by the strength of Tills or Thompsons strikes, but how each man can absorb the others power.

Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino are confident their heavy metal football will be too much for Real to absorb.

Liverpool have a long history of European greatness. Five trophies since their first European Cup in 1977. There has been no such glory since the mesmerizing comeback triumph in 2005 against AC Milan in Istanbul. It was a local lad from Whitton, Steven Gerrard, who inspired that fightback from 3-0 down. West Derby and right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold now occupies the homegrown spot Gerrard once did.

Darren Till ready to crown Liverpool's dream sporting weekend

GDANSK, POLAND - OCTOBER 20: Darren Till of England poses on the scale during the UFC Fight Night Weigh-in inside Ergo Arena on October 20, 2017 in Gdansk, Poland. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) — (Picture: Getty)

Till is homegrown too. Born and raised, and almost killed, in Liverpool. A stabbing incident pushed Till out of his birthplace and to Brazil, where he spent over three years honing his MMA skills. The UFCs first show in Liverpool will mark an astonishing homecoming for Till in his hometown.

Klopp and Liverpool supporters will be praying victory on Saturday night in Ukraine will spark a new era of footballing dominance on Merseyside. Till has his fingers crossed for the same, and a similar reign for himself in MMA.

Reds legend and Captain Fantastic Gerrard was Tills hero growing up. Beat Thompson in Liverpool and he will begin to write his name into the history books of Merseysides greatest sporting heroes, and could crown a dream weekend of sport in his city.

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