Conor McGregor vs Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone: Darren Till makes bold fight prediction ahead of UFC 246

British UFC fighter Darren Till has backed Conor McGregor to make a successful return in his fight against Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone this month because it “feels like the old Conor is back’.

McGregor will compete in the UFC for the first time since his defeat against Khabib Nurmagomedov in October 2018, having taken time away from the sport after suffering the second defeat of his MMA career.

The Irish former featherweight and lightweight champion will return to headline UFC 246 in a welterweight bout against Cerrone, who suffered defeat against Till when they met in October 2017in a first-round knockout.

Having lost half of his last 10 fights in the UFC, Cerrone is very much heading into the contest as the underdog, though he is able to boast three wins from five fights since McGregor was last seen in the UFC.

That said, Till is expecting a repeat of his own experience with the American.

“I’ve got Conor first-round TKO,” Till wrote on Twitter. “Feel like the occasion may just be too much for Cowboy.

“But that’s just my opinion, Cowboy’s been around a lot longer than me and knows a hell of a lot more.”

Till made his name at welterweight in the UFC, suffering defeat in his world championship shot against Tyron Woodley, before taking the decision to move up to middleweight where he currently competes.

And given that he is not currently eyeing a future bout against either fighter, he was willing to offer his thoughts on where he sees the big dangers that Cerrone will face.

“Both are right up for this,” he added. “Cowboy’s camp have more to be concerned with than just Conor’s left hand though.

“As a southpaw, it’s not the left hand. It’s the set-ups from the left hand, the spinning kicks, the feints, angles etc. It all draws you onto the left hand.”

McGregor has already spoken of his desire to earn a rematch against Khabib in an effort to avenge his loss 15 months ago, although he will have to wait for the current lightweight champion to face Tony Ferguson at UFC 249 in April before he can target a second shot at Khabib.