RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesORLANDO, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 03: Darren Elkins is seen during his featherweight fight against Jonathan Pearce during the UFC Fight Night event at Amway Center on December 03, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
One more “Damage” fight incoming.
Longtime Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Featherweight veteran and all-around violent fighter Darren Elkins returns to action against Cuban prospect Yadier del Valle in the “Featured” fight of UFC Vegas 120 this weekend (Sat., Aug. 8, 2026) inside Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.
And this weekend will be his final UFC fight.
“This is it, brother,” Elkins told MMAmania.com during UFC Vegas 120 media day . “I’m older in age now, but mostly, I’m starting to get hurt more often. Training more and more is taking a toll on my body more than it used to, so it’s time.
“I mean, I’ve been contemplating it for awhile, and I talked with my family,” Elkins continued. “I’ve always wanted to lay my gloves in the Octagon, and most people don’t get that chance — they either get cut or have to say it on social media. So, I wanted to do it and ride off into the sunset.”
For Elkins, it was not a tough decision after 30 fights inside the Octagon.
“It wasn’t that tough; I stuck around longer than I thought,” Elkins said. “Listen, if you would have told 22-year-old Darren, who just started fighting, that I’d be fighting at 42 years old, I would have laughed at you. But here I am — having a blast at something I love to do.”
Elkins will not be trading one combat sport for another after he lays his gloves down Saturday night. He is done with anything that involves taking punches to the head or kicks to the body — and yes, that includes Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), which has become the afterlife for plenty of former UFC fighters.
“That’s not my style; I might die,” Elkins said. “My MMA fights are bloody; could you even imagine me in that? I told my wife I wouldn’t even look at that.”
And yes, Elkins’ fights are almost always bloody .
He does not expect his final one to be any different.
For nearly 15 years, Elkins has been one of UFC’s most reliable chaos machines . He has won fights he had no business winning, survived damage that would have broken most fighters and turned “The Damage” from a nickname into a full-blown job description.
But on Saturday, one of the sport’s most beloved grinders will make the walk one final time.
Then, win or lose, Elkins gets to leave the Octagon on his own terms.
For the rest of the UFC Vegas 120 fight card and Paramount+ lineup click here .
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