LAS VEGAS – A 14-year pro with a reputation for putting on some of the wildest fights in UFC history, Darren Elkins admits were it not for a November win, he might have called it a career.
“I feel like it was (an important win) – I mean, get back in the win column and build some momentum again,” Elkins told MMA Junkie at a media day at the UFC Apex. “I really needed that. I came off four in a row losses, and I needed to get back into it. Otherwise, maybe I would have been done.”
Fortunately, Elkins (25-9 MMA, 15-8 UFC) did pick up a third-round submission win over Eduardo Garagorri this past November, and now he’s ready to return to action at Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 27 event, where he faces Darrick Minner (26-11 MMA, 2-1 UFC) at the UFC Apex. The event airs live in its entirety on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.
Known for his fan-pleasing efforts, Elkins said he is excited for the matchup because he feels Minner will be a willing dance partner.
“I asked for him,” Elkins said. “We were looking at some of the guys available, and they said ‘Darrick Minner,’ and I said, ‘Yeah,’” Elkins said. “I mean, that’s an exciting matchup. I’m a grappler. He’s a grappler. We both put on exciting fights, so I was like, ‘Yeah, let’s do Darrick Minner.’ At the time, we wasn’t sure we was going to be able to match him up with me, and then, yeah, we’re going to do it.”
Elkins is well aware of his reputation for exciting brawls and admits he’d actually prefer to not be involved in such taxing clashes. That said, if he’s pushed in a fight, he knows he has what it takes to dig deep and push back.
But at 37, just how much longer can Elkins continue on, especially when he admits he was at least briefly considering hanging it up? “The Damage” admits he’s not sure but isn’t ready to make any commitments one way or another.
“I’m one of those guys that, you know, obviously I’m a union pipefitter,” Elkins said. “I have different skills. I can retire any time and be OK, but I don’t really want to yet, man.
“I’m taking it one fight at a time. I feel like the worst thing to do is put a time frame on it, and then it’s like you’re either done too soon or, you know, you just – it’s not a good thing to do. So I’m just going to take it one fight at a time and reevaluate myself, and when I feel like I’m done, I’m done, and I’ll be happy with it.”
To hear the full interview with Elkins, check out the video above.
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