UFC Iron Man Retires After 35-Second KO Loss (Watch)
Darren Elkins ended a 16-year UFC career at UFC Vegas 120, stopped by Yadier del Valle in 35 seconds. He retires 29-13, second in UFC featherweight wins behind Holloway.
Darren Elkins, the UFC featherweight fighter, has officially retired after a career spanning 16 years and 29 fights. At the age of 42, Elkins announced his retirement following a brutal TKO loss to Yadier del Valle during UFC Vegas 120. The fight lasted just 35 seconds, as Elkins was dropped by a left hook in the first round. Despite his impressive record, Elkins cited injuries and the demanding nature of training as the reasons for his decision to call it a career.
Known as "The Damage" for his resilience against strikes and challenging positions, Elkins holds several UFC featherweight records, including the second-most fights and wins in the division's history. His last win came in October 2024, with his previous fight ending in a first-round stoppage loss against Julian Erosa in April 2025.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
