PARIS, FRANCE – SEPTEMBER 06: A close-up of Paul Craig’s gloves after he announced his retirement following a light heavyweight loss to Modestas Bukauskas at UFC Fight Night at The Accor Arena on September 06, 2025 in Paris, France. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
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Darren “The Damage” Elkins officially closed the book on his fighting career Saturday night at UFC Vegas 120, ending a gritty 16-year run inside the Octagon. The veteran featherweight was stopped by Yadier del Valle just 35 seconds into the opening round, exiting the sport with a 29-13 professional record and a legacy defined less by numbers than by toughness, durability and relentless will.
Darren Elkins Key Facts
Del Valle wasted no time, hurting Elkins with a left hook before finishing the fight with follow-up shots on the mat at the 0:35 mark. Elkins had already said before fight week that this bout would be his “last dance,” and after the loss, he placed his gloves in the center of the Octagon to mark the end of his career.
Across 31 UFC appearances, Elkins built one of the most respected résumés in featherweight history. He retires with the second-most fights and second-most wins ever recorded in the UFC’s 145-pound division. His 2,621 total strikes landed rank seventh all-time in UFC history, a testament to both his pace and longevity. The nickname “The Damage” fit him perfectly: Elkins became known for surviving brutal cuts, knockdowns and dangerous positions, often finding a way to keep fighting when others would have faded. His unforgettable 2017 comeback against Mirsad Bektić remains one of the greatest rallies in UFC history, reviving Elkins’ own run while severely damaging Bektić’s momentum in the promotion.
For much of his career, Elkins also balanced life as a pipefitter with the demands of professional mixed martial arts training, adding another layer to his reputation as one of the sport’s true grinders.
At 42, Elkins had been open about why the time was right to step away. Injuries and the physical toll of training had become increasingly difficult to manage, and he entered his final bout after a rough first-round stoppage loss to Julian Erosa at UFC 314 in April 2025. Saturday’s defeat ended quickly as well, but Elkins leaves behind a career remembered for resilience, heart and an unmistakable willingness to endure whatever the fight demanded.
Elkins told the post-fight press conference, “Obviously, it’s not the ending I wanted, but that’s life.” He leaves on back-to-back stoppage losses, his last win a decision over Daniel Pineda in October 2024.
Darren Elkins’ UFC featherweight records
Per UFC’s official athlete page
- Second-most fights in UFC featherweight history — 29
- Second-most wins in UFC featherweight history, behind only Max Holloway
- Most decision wins in divisional history
- Most control time in divisional history
- Most submission attempts in divisional history
- 31 total UFC appearances across 16 years, debuting at lightweight in 2010
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