Elkins Confirms UFC Vegas 120 Will Be Final Fight

Darren Elkins will hang up his gloves after UFC Vegas 120 this Saturday.

The 42-year-old featherweight faces Cuban prospect Yadier del Valle at Meta Apex in Las Vegas in what will mark his 30th walk to the Octagon. Elkins told MMA Mania at media day that age and accumulating injuries made the choice clear. "I'm older in age now, but mostly, I'm starting to get hurt more often," he said. "Training more and more is taking a toll on my body more than it used to, so it's time."

Why Elkins Chose To Walk Away Now

Elkins said the decision was not difficult after nearly 15 years on the UFC roster. "It wasn't that tough; I stuck around longer than I thought," he 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." He added that he discussed the timing with his family and wanted to leave on his own terms rather than through a release or social media announcement.

The veteran ruled out any post-UFC detours to bare-knuckle boxing, calling it outside his style. "That's not my style; I might die," he said. "My MMA fights are bloody; could you even imagine me in that?" Elkins expects his final bout to match the violent tone of most of his career — fights that turned his nickname into a full job description.

UFC Vegas 120 streams Saturday on Paramount+, with Elkins and del Valle slated for the featured prelim slot.

Reported via:

• MMA Mania — Darren Elkins confirms UFC Vegas 120 will be final fight – ‘Stuck around longer than I thought’