As planned, Darren Elkins retired from mixed martial arts on Saturday night following his fight with Yadier del Valle on the undercard of UFC Fight Night: Gamrot vs. Salkilld. Not planned: the way he went out via TKO just 35 seconds into the bout.
It was a tough ending for “The Damage,” but the way it goes for many fighters who stick around this long. Elkins leaves the sport at 42 years old and a 29-13 record (19-12 UFC) and the word that kept coming up following the loss was ‘gratitude.’
“Obviously,
it’s not the ending I wanted, but that’s life,” Elkins said at the post-fight press conference. “You don’t always get the ending you want. I had a chance to do it at least. Most people don’t get that chance … So I wanted my happy ending, but shoot shoot, man. I’ve had so many happy endings in my life. I’m I’m thankful. I’m thankful that I have my health. I have my family. It’s emotional, but, man, was it a fun ride.”
Elkins sounded prepared for post-fight life.
“I’m feeling a little bit of relief,” he admitted. “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 it I got greedy.”
The Pineda fight in October 2024 was Elkins’ last win, and he’s gone out on two TKO losses. You could criticize the UFC for giving “The Damage” such a tough send-off, but it was all love on his side.
“Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be here, to show who I am, to to keep stepping in the octagon, for believing in me,” he said. “Those guys, I’ve always got along with everybody at the UFC. I’m a guy, 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.”
“They knew who I was, and I knew who they were. So we had a great relationship. I have not really anything to say bad about the UFC. I’ve had some really good experiences with them.”
And it’s been quite the experience getting to watch “The Damage” fight over the past 16 years. Win or lose, he always brought it. What more could you ask for?
