Darren Till’s UFC fight with Stephen Thompson will still go ahead in Liverpool on Sunday even though Till missed the weight.

The Englishman’s hometown welterweight bout with American Thompson looked like being called off after Till was 3.5lbs overweight at Saturday’s weigh-in.

Till was even given an additional hour to make the weight, after citing a family emergency as a reason, but still came in too heavy.

However, Thompson has allowed the fight to go ahead and the pair will headline as on Sunday as Liverpool’s Echo Arena hosts the first UFC event ever to be held in the city.

Till will give 30 per cent of his fee to Thompson by way of a fine and he must also be no heavier than 188lbs at another weigh in on Sunday morning.

The 25-year-old Merseysider, unbeaten in 17 MMA contests including five in the UFC, is set to face an opponent whose own 17-fight record, featuring 12 UFC bouts, shows two losses, both on points, and who is the number one- ranked welterweight contender.