Fight night in Manchester: card and stakes
Two former UFC headliners meet under the Misfits banner in Manchester this Saturday, August 30, 2025. This isn’t your usual crossover spectacle. It’s a real clash of pedigrees: Darren Till vs Luke Rockhold tops Misfits X Series 22, streamed worldwide on DAZN, and it marks a clear push by the promotion to prove it can stage legitimate high-level fights alongside its influencer roots.
Till, the Liverpool southpaw once known for sharp counters and a mean left hand at welterweight and middleweight, brings hometown energy and a point to prove. Rockhold, a former UFC middleweight champion with a long frame, nasty kicks, and veteran craft, has been in with the best for more than a decade. Styles-wise, this is striker versus all-rounder: Till wants to box in the pocket and poke with feints, while Rockhold will look to control range, kick the body and legs, and test clinch strength if it gets dirty.
Tensions spiked at Friday’s weigh-ins. Security had to step in after the face-off turned physical, and neither man backed down. That kind of raw edge can cut two ways: it can fuel a fast start, or it can prompt both to slow things down and pick safer shots early. With both coming from the UFC’s highest levels, expect feints, footwork battles, and a lot of small adjustments that casual fans might miss until a clean moment lands.
Misfits has booked a busy undercard to match the headline act. The promotion is billing a double main event with Tony Ferguson facing Salt Pappy. On paper, it’s a wild pairing: a former UFC interim champion with a cult following against a crossover star who built an audience with timing and counterpunching on the influencer scene. Ferguson’s durability and awkward pressure meet a patient, pot-shot style—an odd mix that could either produce fireworks or a chess match if both men wait for counters.
Also on tap: Dylan Danis takes on Warren Spencer in an MMA contest, bringing grappling storylines into a night that leans heavy on striking. Danis is a polarizing figure, but he drags attention wherever he goes, and any fight that forces scrambles and submission threats will break up the rhythm of a boxing-led broadcast. Amir Anderson is slated to return as well, adding another prospect note to a card clearly designed to blend entertainment with credible matchups.
Misfits says world titles will be contested on this show, marking its debut into championship MMA. That’s a significant pivot for a brand that made its name on internet matchups and celebrity fights. Introducing titles—and doing it on a night headlined by two proven names—signals an intent to build stakes that stick. Titles create ladders, ladders create repeat storylines, and that’s how a promotion moves from spectacle to structure.
The Manchester setting matters too. UK fight nights carry a specific mood—loud, partisan, and fast to react when a local hero lands. Till is no stranger to that atmosphere. Rockhold has walked into hostile arenas before, but walking into Manchester against a Scouser with momentum from a heated weigh-in is a challenge of its own.
What changes when former UFC talent fights under Misfits? The lights and cameras feel familiar, but the incentive structure shifts. There’s less ranking pressure and more fan energy. That often frees veterans to open up sooner, take more risks, and chase moments. If that happens here, the main event could move fast: a jab feint, a left hand over the top, a head kick up the middle—one clean read can tilt everything.
Three things to watch for in the headline bout:
- Distance control: Rockhold’s kicks versus Till’s footwork and left hand counters.
- Composure after the weigh-in drama: Who stays patient when the crowd roars?
- Durability question: If either man gets clipped early, does the fight snowball?
As for the broader picture, Misfits partnering with DAZN’s X Series brand keeps the content pipeline global. It also suggests the promotion is trying to close the gap between viral moments and sporting merit. Mixing star power with title belts and veterans is the most direct route there.
How to watch, stream and start time
Date: Saturday, August 30, 2025. Location: Manchester, United Kingdom. Broadcast: Exclusively on DAZN. You can stream the event through the DAZN app or website on mobile, tablet, smart TV, or connected devices like Apple TV, Fire TV, Roku, PlayStation, and Xbox. If you’re new to DAZN, create an account, confirm your country’s availability, and follow the purchase prompts for this event. In some regions, an event fee may apply in addition to your subscription.
Start time: The main card is scheduled for Saturday evening local time in the UK. Exact broadcast and ring-walk times are set by DAZN’s regional listings and can vary by country. Check the event page in the DAZN app on fight day for your local start time and a countdown clock. If you’re outside the UK, the app will auto-adjust to your time zone.
Viewing tips:
- Update your DAZN app before fight night to avoid login or playback issues.
- Set a reminder in the app so you get an alert when the main card goes live.
- Use a wired or 5 GHz Wi‑Fi connection for the most stable stream.
- If you plan to cast to a TV, test the connection with another live event earlier in the day.
Expect a full night: prelims typically roll into the main card with short breaks between bouts. With multiple high-profile matchups, the broadcast is likely to run late into the evening in the UK. If you’re watching from the U.S., that means afternoon to early evening on the East Coast and earlier out West; DAZN’s regional listing will show exact times.
Production-wise, this show is a joint effort between Misfits Boxing and DAZN’s X Series—so you can expect familiar pacing, shoulder programming during the week, and in-broadcast features that set up the main event narrative. The weigh-in scuffle has already given producers plenty of material. If the fighters carry that edge into the ring, the cameras won’t miss it.
Why this event matters: this card blends three spheres—veteran MMA names, crossover stars, and fledgling title stakes—under one roof. If it works, Misfits will have proof it can anchor a night with real sporting credibility and keep the viral buzz that built the brand. If it flops, the lesson will be just as clear. That risk is the point—and it’s why Manchester feels like more than another stop on the calendar.