Darren Elkins Shines in UFC Fight Night 230 Featured Preliminary Bout

Darren Elkins did damage to force the tap 👏 #UFCVegas81 pic.twitter.com/KO4VmrGiH3

— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) October 14, 2023

Even at 39 years old Darren “The Damage” Elkins continues to be a tough night at the office for Ultimate Fighting Championship opponents.

Elkins turned back the clock with a beautifully executed rear naked choke on T.J. Brown at the 2:23 mark of the third round of their featherweight clash at UFC Fight Night 230.

Elkins has been cut more than Michelin star chefs but fans were surprised to see him clean after two rounds of consistent scrambling with Brown.

Despite Brown’s 10 submission wins, Elkins seemed unfazed by the Westside MMA prospect. Elkins settled into top control and made life miserable with the constant pace.

Heading into Round 3, the fans finally got what they wanted. As the blood streamed down Elkins face, Brown’s eyes grew frantic once “The Damage” sunk into an RNC that would ultimately give him his second straight loss.

Tainara Lisboa spoiled Ravena Oliveira’s Octagon debut by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).

Lisboa controlled most of the first two rounds with consistent top pressure along the cage. Oliveira would start to turn the tide of the fight in round 3 with a handful of hard flurries but her late fight surge came too late.

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If you blinked you might’ve missed one of the most devastating knees of the year, courtesy of Terrance McKinney.

“T. Wrecks” wasted little time on Brendon Marotte on Saturday. McKinney dropped Marotte with a flash knee in the first eight seconds and spent the next 12 reigning down punches until referee Herb Dean mercifully stopped the bout 20 seconds into the first round.

Melissa Dixon (6-0) could be an exciting addition to the women’s bantamweight division but the English slugger wasn’t impressed by her UFC debut.

Dixon shook off a highlight reel-esque knockdown from Irina Alekseeva to pound her way to a unanimous decision win (30-27, 29-28, 29-28). Alekseeva was behind most of the fight but always seemed to have a response to Dixon’s textbook jab. Both fighters were bloodied but Dixon’s use of grappling helped her control the tempo.

Chris Gutierrez is one of the most fluid strikers at bantamweight and he proved that early against Heili Alateng.

Alateng couldn’t keep up with Gutierrez’s lateral movement and paid dearly on feints and counters. Gutierrez’s chopped at his legs consistently and never let Alateng settle into his wrestling.

It was an impressive bounce-back performance for the UFC’s No. 15-ranked bantamweight. Gutierrez had his four-fight win streak snapped by Pedro Munhoz last April but controlled every moment en route to a unanimous decision win (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).

Strawweight Emily Ducote returned to the winning column after grinding out a tough decision over Ashley Yoder (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) in the evening’s opening bout

Yoder, looking for her first win in over three years, opened the fight looking to strike and landed an eye-opening overhand left. Ducote marked up Yoder with punches and opened up a visible gash before the third round. Ducote and Yoder’s fight could’ve gone either way late but Ducote’s pressure pushed through in the third and won over the judges.