Featherweight · “The Damage”
Darren Elkins
29-12-0 UFC 19-12-0
Chain Wrestling
Smothering Control
5'10"Height
71"Reach
OrthodoxStance
42Age
4KO wins
3Sub wins
36.8%Finish rate
11:19Avg fight
Skill profile
striking
not yet read
grappling
solid
1 read
wrestling
not yet read
cardio
not yet read
durability
not yet read
Chain Wrestling
67 takedowns from 198 attempts · 2.9 landed per 15 min
Smothering Control
37% of every fight spent in control position
Career rates — the raw numbers behind the chart
Sig. strikes landed / min3.39
Sig. strikes absorbed / min3.34
Striking accuracy38.4%
Striking defense51.1%
Knockdowns / 15 min0.09
Takedowns / 15 min2.86
Takedown accuracy33.8%
Takedown defense56.1%
Sub attempts / 15 min1.07
Control time36.8%
Record vs .500+ opponents13-9
Insider info
Yadier del Valle favored — picked against Darren Elkins coinflip UFC Fight Night: Gamrot vs Salkilld · August 4, 2026
grapplingsolid
Picked against with an explicit note of zero confidence, after saying stylistically he thinks Elkins can win this fight.
A grizzled veteran the analyst rates as genuinely live here despite picking the favored opponent. Striking is a clear weakness -- almost no defense at all, and leg-kick defense in particular is the worst part of his game -- but he is durable in the sense that he absorbs enormous damage before finishing, even though he cuts easily. The grappling is where he wins: excellent takedowns he chains together, elite submission defense (submitted only once in a 29-12 career, 16 years ago), and a rare ability to end up on top against grapplers trying to work him.
Strengthexcellent, chained takedowns
Strengthelite submission defense across a long career
Strengthflows from position to position better than given credit for
Strengthfrequently ends up on top even against skilled grapplers
Strengthcardio and pace hold up deep into fights
Weaknessalmost no striking defense
Weaknessleg-kick defense is the single worst part of his game
Weaknesscuts and bleeds easily even though he can absorb damage
Striking trend
Fight history
L Yadier del Valle 2-1 walk-in KO/TKO · R1 0:35 — UFC Fight Night: Gamrot vs. Salkilld · August 8, 2026
0/2Sig. strikes
5/6Absorbed
0/1Takedowns
0:00Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
L Julian Erosa 30-11 walk-in KO/TKO · R1 4:15 — UFC 314: Volkanovski vs. Lopes · April 12, 2025
13/31Sig. strikes
54/73Absorbed
1/7Takedowns
0:48Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Daniel Pineda 28-16 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC Fight Night: Hernandez vs. Pereira · October 19, 2024
39/88Sig. strikes
31/53Absorbed
3/12Takedowns
6:33Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W TJ Brown 17-10 walk-in Submission · R3 2:23 — UFC Fight Night: Yusuff vs. Barboza · October 14, 2023
11/33Sig. strikes
15/50Absorbed
5/8Takedowns
8:09Control
0Knockdowns
2Sub attempts
L Jonathan Pearce 13-4 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Holland · December 3, 2022
57/193Sig. strikes
110/222Absorbed
2/5Takedowns
0:48Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Tristan Connelly 14-7 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC Fight Night: Font vs. Vera · April 30, 2022
75/151Sig. strikes
66/117Absorbed
5/10Takedowns
7:52Control
0Knockdowns
1Sub attempts
L Cub Swanson 27-12 walk-in KO/TKO · R1 2:12 — UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Daukaus · December 18, 2021
2/19Sig. strikes
18/30Absorbed
0/2Takedowns
0:00Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Darrick Minner 26-11 walk-in KO/TKO · R2 3:48 — UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Dillashaw · July 24, 2021
20/30Sig. strikes
19/35Absorbed
1/2Takedowns
3:01Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Eduardo Garagorri 13-1 walk-in Submission · R3 2:22 — UFC Fight Night: Santos vs. Teixeira · November 7, 2020
32/72Sig. strikes
36/78Absorbed
7/21Takedowns
7:34Control
0Knockdowns
1Sub attempts
L Nate Landwehr 13-3 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Harris · May 16, 2020
121/253Sig. strikes
118/234Absorbed
1/13Takedowns
1:24Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
L Ryan Hall 7-1 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC Fight Night: De Randamie vs. Ladd · July 13, 2019
29/126Sig. strikes
36/83Absorbed
0/0Takedowns
1:49Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
L Ricardo Lamas 18-7 walk-in KO/TKO · R3 4:09 — UFC Fight Night: Magny vs. Ponzinibbio · November 17, 2018
62/174Sig. strikes
70/123Absorbed
3/6Takedowns
2:39Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
L Alexander Volkanovski 17-1 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC Fight Night: Dos Santos vs. Ivanov · July 14, 2018
82/172Sig. strikes
100/144Absorbed
1/6Takedowns
0:59Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Michael Johnson 17-12 walk-in Submission · R2 2:22 — UFC Fight Night: Stephens vs. Choi · January 14, 2018
18/64Sig. strikes
45/98Absorbed
1/4Takedowns
2:01Control
0Knockdowns
1Sub attempts
W Dennis Bermudez 16-6 walk-in Decision - Split · R3 5:00 — UFC Fight Night: Weidman vs. Gastelum · July 22, 2017
70/154Sig. strikes
69/160Absorbed
3/10Takedowns
4:04Control
0Knockdowns
2Sub attempts
W Mirsad Bektic 11-0 walk-in KO/TKO · R3 3:19 — UFC 209: Woodley vs. Thompson 2 · March 4, 2017
28/59Sig. strikes
60/98Absorbed
0/1Takedowns
1:22Control
1Knockdowns
1Sub attempts
W Godofredo Pepey 12-3 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC on FOX: Holm vs. Shevchenko · July 23, 2016
33/57Sig. strikes
20/38Absorbed
5/6Takedowns
11:46Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Chas Skelly 15-1 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC 196: McGregor vs Diaz · March 5, 2016
104/153Sig. strikes
27/72Absorbed
7/11Takedowns
8:43Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Robert Whiteford 12-2 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC Fight Night: Holohan vs Smolka · October 24, 2015
40/130Sig. strikes
23/63Absorbed
7/11Takedowns
8:30Control
0Knockdowns
2Sub attempts
L Hacran Dias 21-3-1 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC Fight Night: Machida vs Dollaway · December 20, 2014
37/97Sig. strikes
30/52Absorbed
1/6Takedowns
2:42Control
0Knockdowns
1Sub attempts
W Lucas Martins 15-1 walk-in Decision - Split · R3 5:00 — UFC 179: Aldo vs Mendes 2 · October 25, 2014
47/154Sig. strikes
26/82Absorbed
1/14Takedowns
8:03Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
L Jeremy Stephens 22-9 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC on FOX: Henderson vs Thomson · January 25, 2014
21/137Sig. strikes
40/117Absorbed
0/9Takedowns
1:14Control
0Knockdowns
4Sub attempts
W Hatsu Hioki 26-6-2 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC Fight Night: Condit vs Kampmann 2 · August 28, 2013
48/144Sig. strikes
31/69Absorbed
2/5Takedowns
7:00Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
L Chad Mendes 13-1 walk-in KO/TKO · R1 1:08 — UFC on FOX: Henderson vs Melendez · April 20, 2013
2/29Sig. strikes
7/14Absorbed
0/0Takedowns
0:00Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Antonio Carvalho 15-5 walk-in KO/TKO · R1 3:06 — UFC 158: St-Pierre vs Diaz · March 16, 2013
14/54Sig. strikes
9/27Absorbed
0/2Takedowns
0:22Control
1Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Steven Siler 21-9 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC 154: St-Pierre vs Condit · November 17, 2012
44/91Sig. strikes
15/48Absorbed
6/7Takedowns
11:19Control
0Knockdowns
6Sub attempts
W Diego Brandao 14-7 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC 146: Dos Santos vs Mir · May 26, 2012
36/88Sig. strikes
23/47Absorbed
1/6Takedowns
6:32Control
0Knockdowns
1Sub attempts
W Zhang Tiequan 15-1 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC 136: Edgar vs Maynard 3 · October 8, 2011
27/49Sig. strikes
2/18Absorbed
1/6Takedowns
13:06Control
0Knockdowns
3Sub attempts
W Michihiro Omigawa 11-9-1 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC 131: Dos Santos vs Carwin · June 11, 2011
78/288Sig. strikes
65/141Absorbed
1/4Takedowns
0:05Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
L Charles Oliveira 8-0 walk-in Submission · R1 0:41 — UFC Live: Jones vs Matyushenko · August 1, 2010
0/4Sig. strikes
3/4Absorbed
1/1Takedowns
0:27Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Duane Ludwig 19-10 walk-in KO/TKO · R1 0:44 — UFC Live: Vera vs Jones · March 21, 2010
0/2Sig. strikes
1/5Absorbed
1/2Takedowns
0:10Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
Walk-in records count UFC bouts in this database. For the pre-UFC career, see the record breakdown below or the Tapology button up top.
Record breakdown
Wins by method
KO/TKO
8
Submission
7
Decision
14
Other
0
Losses by method
KO/TKO
5
Submission
1
Decision
6
Other
0
Fights by organization
UFC
30
Corral's Combat Classic
3
Total Fight Challenge
2
Bourbon Street Brawl
2
Hoosier FC
1
Duneland Classic
1
Bodog Fight
1
International MMA Competition
1
Full career — 41 fights, every organization
| Opponent | Method | Event | Org | Rd | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L | Julian Erosa | TKO (elbow and punches) | UFC 314
April 12, 2025 |
UFC | 1 | 4:15 |
| W | Daniel Pineda | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Hernandez vs. Pereira
October 19, 2024 |
UFC | 3 | 5:00 |
| W | T.J. Brown | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Yusuff vs. Barboza
October 14, 2023 |
UFC | 3 | 2:23 |
| L | Jonathan Pearce | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Thompson vs. Holland
December 3, 2022 |
UFC | 3 | 5:00 |
| W | Tristan Connelly | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Font vs. Vera
April 30, 2022 |
UFC | 3 | 5:00 |
| L | Cub Swanson | TKO (spinning wheel kick and punches) | UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Daukaus
December 18, 2021 |
UFC | 1 | 2:12 |
| W | Darrick Minner | TKO (punches) | UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Dillashaw
July 24, 2021 |
UFC | 2 | 3:48 |
| W | Luiz Eduardo Garagorri | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC on ESPN: Santos vs. Teixeira
November 7, 2020 |
UFC | 3 | 2:22 |
| L | Nate Landwehr | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Overeem vs. Harris
May 16, 2020 |
UFC | 3 | 5:00 |
| L | Ryan Hall | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: de Randamie vs. Ladd
July 13, 2019 |
UFC | 3 | 5:00 |
| L | Ricardo Lamas | TKO (punches and elbows) | UFC Fight Night: Magny vs. Ponzinibbio
November 17, 2018 |
UFC | 3 | 4:09 |
| L | Alexander Volkanovski | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: dos Santos vs. Ivanov
July 14, 2018 |
UFC | 3 | 5:00 |
| W | Michael Johnson | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Stephens vs. Choi
January 14, 2018 |
UFC | 2 | 2:22 |
| W | Dennis Bermudez | Decision (split) | UFC on Fox: Weidman vs. Gastelum
July 22, 2017 |
UFC | 3 | 5:00 |
| W | Mirsad Bektić | KO (punches) | UFC 209
March 4, 2017 |
UFC | 3 | 3:19 |
| W | Godofredo Pepey | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on Fox: Holm vs. Shevchenko
July 23, 2016 |
UFC | 3 | 5:00 |
| W | Chas Skelly | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 196
March 5, 2016 |
UFC | 3 | 5:00 |
| W | Robert Whiteford | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Holohan vs. Smolka
October 24, 2015 |
UFC | 3 | 5:00 |
| L | Hacran Dias | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Dollaway
December 20, 2014 |
UFC | 3 | 5:00 |
| W | Lucas Martins | Decision (split) | UFC 179
October 25, 2014 |
UFC | 3 | 5:00 |
| L | Jeremy Stephens | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on Fox: Henderson vs. Thomson
January 25, 2014 |
UFC | 3 | 5:00 |
| W | Hatsu Hioki | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Condit vs. Kampmann 2
August 28, 2013 |
UFC | 3 | 5:00 |
| L | Chad Mendes | TKO (punches) | UFC on Fox: Henderson vs. Melendez
April 20, 2013 |
UFC | 1 | 1:08 |
| W | Antonio Carvalho | TKO (punches) | UFC 158
March 16, 2013 |
UFC | 1 | 3:06 |
| W | Steven Siler | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 154
November 17, 2012 |
UFC | 3 | 5:00 |
| W | Diego Brandão | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 146
May 26, 2012 |
UFC | 3 | 5:00 |
| W | Zhang Tiequan | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 136
October 8, 2011 |
UFC | 3 | 5:00 |
| W | Michihiro Omigawa | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 131
June 11, 2011 |
UFC | 3 | 5:00 |
| L | Charles Oliveira | Submission (armbar) | UFC Live: Jones vs. Matyushenko
August 1, 2010 |
UFC | 1 | 0:41 |
| W | Duane Ludwig | TKO (ankle injury) | UFC Live: Vera vs. Jones
March 21, 2010 |
UFC | 1 | 0:44 |
| W | Gideon Ray | Decision (unanimous) | Hoosier FC 1
November 20, 2009 |
Hoosier FC | 3 | 5:00 |
| W | Bryan Neville | TKO (punches) | Total Fight Challenge 17
October 10, 2009 |
Total Fight Challenge | 1 | 1:27 |
| L | Ted Worthington | TKO (doctor stoppage) | Duneland Classic 6
September 12, 2009 |
Duneland Classic | 1 | 0:13 |
| W | Danny Rodriguez | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Total Fight Challenge 15
May 30, 2009 |
Total Fight Challenge | 1 | 1:36 |
| W | Pat Curran | Decision (unanimous) | Corral's Combat Classic: Domination
November 22, 2008 |
Corral's Combat Classic | 3 | 5:00 |
| W | Kenny Klein | TKO (punches) | Corral's Combat Classic: Summer Fight Fest 3
August 15, 2008 |
Corral's Combat Classic | 1 | 1:36 |
| W | Decarlo Johnson | Submission (guillotine choke) | Corral's Combat Classic 2
April 26, 2008 |
Corral's Combat Classic | 2 | 0:24 |
| W | Atsuhiro Tsuboi | Submission (Von Flue choke) | Bodog Fight: Vancouver
August 24, 2007 |
Bodog Fight | 1 | 1:55 |
| W | Daniel Wanderley | TKO (corner stoppage) | International MMA Competition 2
April 21, 2007 |
International MMA Competition | 1 | 5:00 |
| W | Matt Joseph | TKO (punches) | Bourbon Street Brawl 3
April 4, 2007 |
Bourbon Street Brawl | 1 | — |
| W | Jeremy Markam | TKO (submission to punches) | Bourbon Street Brawl 2
January 24, 2007 |
Bourbon Street Brawl | 1 | — |
Career history from the fighter's Wikipedia record table (Darren Elkins) — results only, no strike stats; UFC bouts are marked and carry full stats in the fight history above.
Division context
Hero photo of Darren Elkins by RapidSpin33 ( talk ) (Zach Able) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons