Darren Elkins feels 'relief' after retiring from UFC Vegas 120: 'This is a young man's game'
Darren Elkins has concluded his professional mixed martial arts career, and he's feeling a sense of relief. His final fight at UFC Vegas 120 saw him quickly defeated by Yadier del Valle via first-round TKO in just 35 seconds.
Speaking at the post-fight press conference, Elkins acknowledged that he may have continued fighting professionally for longer than necessary. "I'm feeling a little bit of relief," Elkins stated. "I'm looking forward to the next chapter of my life. This is a young man's game. I knew that. I stuck around for probably a little bit longer than I should’ve, but I loved it so much. I was like, 'We'll do a little bit more.' So do I regret it? No. Should I probably [have] retired? Probably a little bit sooner. Maybe after [the] Daniel Pineda one would’ve been kinda cool, but I got greedy."
Elkins also expressed his appreciation for the opportunities he was given by the UFC and highlighted his professionalism throughout his tenure. "I've always got along with everybody at the UFC," he said. "They know I'm gonna show up. I'm gonna clock in. I'm gonna give everything I have. I'm gonna make weight. I'm gonna be on time. I'm not gonna complain. I never complained."
Elkins' career ended with two consecutive first-round losses, bringing his professional record to 42 fights. During his time in the sport, he faced numerous well-known fighters, including current UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski, Chad Mendes, and Jeremy Stephens.
One of the most memorable moments of Elkins' career occurred at UFC 209 in 2017 when he achieved a remarkable comeback victory against the previously undefeated Mirsad Bektić, earning him a "Performance of the Night" bonus.
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