Darren “The Damage” Elkins, a fighter in the UFC’s featherweight division and a staple of the promotion, has retired after 20 years as a professional fighter.
The Team Alpha Male athlete, who began his mixed martial arts career in 2007, laid down his gloves after suffering a first-round KO loss to Yadier del Valle on Saturday at UFC Fight Night: Gamrot vs. Salkilld. The 11-1 Cuban took Elkins off his feet with a left hand just 35 seconds into their bout.
In a rare moment following a loss, the UFC gave Elkins a moment on the microphone. There was no video package, something that has become increasingly common when notable fighters retire. Most recently, Michael Chiesa had a hometown retirement fight against Niko Price. Price also retired following that bout. He waited for his moment on the microphone to lay down his gloves, but was never given one.
It isn’t entirely clear who makes the decision about which fighters are allowed a moment on the microphone after a loss, or who receives a video package featuring career highlights. Maybe it’s prestige or company value that determines the type of send-off a fighter receives.
But if time and heart were the measurements of what deserves a notable retirement, then Darren Elkins would have had the whole event revolve around him.
Table of Contents
Sixteen Years in the UFC
Elkins made his UFC debut in March 2010 against a name some hardcore fans might recognize: Duane Ludwig, who would later become a famed coach, coaching fighters like T.J. Dillashaw to multiple titles.
Elkins earned the TKO victory and remained with the UFC ever since.
Sixteen years in the UFC is quite an accomplishment in itself. Looking at the numbers, it is beyond rare for someone to do it for that long. In the history of the promotion, only 17 fighters have been with the UFC for 15 or more consecutive years, compared to the 118 champions throughout UFC history.
That means that, out of every person to ever fight in the Octagon, roughly 4% have won a belt in their respective division. Only 0.4% of fighters have remained in the UFC for 15 or more years.
The numbers put Elkins’ career into perspective.
Though, like many others before him, Elkins may have left the sport on his shield.
He closes the book on a historic career. One that any fighter would be lucky to have.
Staying with the most coveted fight promotion in the world while competing at a high level for such a long time is an accomplishment that is almost impossible to quantify. His record includes fights against future champions, Hall of Famers, and four Performance of the Night bonuses.
But one bout stands out.
One that, when I personally watched it nine years ago, I cried.
A Battle for the Ages , Elkins vs Bektić
UFC on FOX: Holm vs. Shevchenko — 2016
Elkins caught attention with the debut of his new “The Damage” tattoo across his chest.
This fight would live up to the nickname.
Darren was the largest betting underdog on that card at +700, showing just how highly Mirsad Bektić was regarded at the time as an undefeated prospect.
The 26-year-old favorite landed a swift combination on Elkins before quickly securing a takedown. He would proceed to lay down a beating, resulting in a puddle of blood pooling beneath Elkins’ head by the end of the round.
Round two starts with Mirsad applying pressure on an already very bloody Elkins, who was not giving a single inch while still wrestling and attempting submissions.
Bektić ends up on top of Elkins, where he continues with the ground-and-pound. At this point, I’m questioning whether his corner should throw in the towel.
The fight was becoming hard to watch.
UFC commentator Jon Anik announces:
“Third and final round, Bektić takes the center of the Octagon in yellow. Darren Elkins in black and white, smeared in red.”
Getting hit with hard shots that would have taken out most of the division, Elkins continues to fight on.
Bektić secures top control yet again.
In a pattern that, at this point, has become all too familiar, the beating starts again.
That’s when Bektić hops over, attempting to take full mount, when Elkins hip-checks him to the side and grabs his ankle in a desperate attempt at a submission.
Yanking on the heel hook, grimacing and covered in blood, Bektić gets loose.
In his attempt to rise, Elkins finds himself in a favorable position, slightly elevated against the cage.
He starts throwing punches.
Mirsad covers up.
Elkins starts throwing knees to the body, switching between knees and punches.
In that moment, commentator Joe Rogan says:
“Darren Elkins is all about deep water. This kid breathes underwater.”
Mirsad rises and gets hit with two right hands.
He stumbles in an attempt to get away, and a right head kick thrown by Elkins lands.
He somersaults over, unconscious.
The place explodes.
Darren “The Damage” Elkins lived up to his name.
He throws his hands in the air and roars—the long, proud roar of a lion after a storied battle.
Joe Rogan held back tears while calling him the toughest man on Earth. Rogan would later reminisce about what it was like to call that fight, becoming emotional while discussing it on his podcast.
It was one of the few times I shed genuine tears of joy after a fight.
That fight told the story of who Darren Elkins is as a man, martial artist, athlete, and human being.
The heart on display isn’t something that can be bought, borrowed, or taught.
That fight is also a prime example of why this sport is the best in the world.
It doesn’t matter if someone is winning every second of a bout. This isn’t football or basketball. The person winning can lose at any moment.
Anything can happen.
That is the same reason I watch every fight on the card from beginning to end.
Darren Elkins’ career is one of the greatest examples of that philosophy: one of the greatest comebacks the sport has ever seen, coming from a career that defied statistics.
“It’s Emotional, But Man Was It A Fun Ride” – Elkins On Retirement
Danie Cormier presented the mic to Darren Elkins after his knockout loss last Saturday. When asked what he was feeling in that moment, “Gratitude” were the first words to leave Darren’s lips. “I didn’t know how this would end, but that’s life, right? After praising his lord Jesus Christ Darren continued “I’m happy, I just want to take a minute to thank all my coaches, they’ve been with me since the beginning.” Going down a laundry list of names of men who had supported this historic career from the start. “I wouldn’t be here without my wife.” His last was thanking the UFC itself. Clearly thankful for the almost 17 years of service to the promotion.
Tears were shed backstage during the post fight presser. Elkins told MMA media. “In life you don’t always get the ending you want. I had a chance to do it at lest, most people don’t get that chance.” Fighting through tears Darren says “It’s emotional, but man was it a fun ride.”
Few human beings on earth have ever shown the heart that Darren Elkins has. He may have never fought for a title in the UFC, but every fight he had was worth watching. The end of a legendary career. Darren Elkins takes a Curtin call one last time. Giving us a gimps as to the type of man it takes to be a professional fighter. From the fans we say thank you for the years, blood and entertainment.
