Darren Till thinks 2018 is going to be his year and he says he will become the UFC's welterweight champion.

Darren Till: ‘2018 Is Going To Be The Year Of The First Scouse Champion’

Darren Till won the UFC’s award for ‘Breakthrough Fighter of the Year for 2017,’ but he’s planning on taking things one step further in 2018, and he’s got his eyes on winning the 170-pounds title.

Till won all three of his fights last year, with victories over Jessin Ayari, Bojan Velickovic and Donald Cerrone in 2017. Speaking to BoxingNews24, Till said he was happy with the position he’d worked himself into, but assured his fans this was only the start of his ascent up the UFC’s welterweight rankings.

“I’m buzzing. I’m happy with my team at Kaobon and obviously the MTK team, I feel like they’re a big loyal family and that’s what I’m about myself. I’m buzzing to work with them,” Till said.

“I took a few weeks off around Christmas to chill, ate lots of food and did a bit of partying, but I’ve started back training now and this is going to be another year of hard work.

“I’ll be champion by the end of the year. Last year was great, but 2018 is going to be huge. We’ve already got something big in the pipeline!”

What that ‘big’ thing is, remains to be seen, but fans in the UK are clamouring for the Liverpudlian to be added to the upcoming UFC Fight Night London card on March 17.

As far as Till is concerned, his ideal next opponent would’ve been Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson, however, with the American seemingly far less keen on the idea, that fight looks unlikely to happen in the near future.

Another potential next opponent for Till was Mike Perry, but that was ruled out yesterday following the announcement that Perry would face Max Griffin at UFC on Fox 28 on Feb. 2. With also ruled out, it appears Till is going to take his time before taking his next bout.

“I fancy that fight. He’s the No 1 contender so if I beat him then that’s an automatic title shot and by the end of the year I’ll be champion, so we’ll see what happens,” Till said, regarding Thompson.

“I don’t know what happened with Perry. He’s booked another fight, so he’s missed his chance because I’d said I’d still fight him even though he lost. I’m the biggest name in the welterweight division now, so I can just sit back and choose who I fight.”

Regardless of who he faces next, Till is adamant he will wearing UFC gold by the end of 2018.

“2018 is going to be the year of the first Scouse champion, I can feel it! I just know it’s going to be my year.”