Image Credit: UFC
Darren Elkins gets back on the winning track at UFC on ESPN 35
The Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to us tonight, April 30, 2022, for UFC on ESPN 35, going down live from the Apex Center in Enterprise, Nevada.
Headlining the card is a bantamweight bout between ranked contenders Rob Font (no. 5) and Marlon Vera (no. 8).
Co-headlining the event is a heavyweight contest that sees former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski face off against Jake Collier.
Arlovski, to our surprise, has gone 5-1 over his last six, while Collier has gone 2-2 since moving up to the heavyweight division.
The second bout on the main card came in the featherweight division between longtime UFC staple Darren Elkins, and BJJ black belt Tristan Connelly. Both parties are coming into this bout off a defeat, and both are looking to get back on the winning track here tonight at UFC on ESPN 35.
Continue reading to see how this featherweight bout went down:
Official Result: Darren Elkins def. Tristian Connelly via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Elkins begins the fight very aggressively as he lands a couple hard right hands before shooting on and securing a double leg. He remains on top for about two minutes, before Connelly is able to work his way back up.
However, he isn’t back up for long, as Elkins takes him down handily once again.
Elkins couldn’t stay on top too long this time though, and they end the first round trading punches.
Connelly lands a couple nice calf kicks to start round two, the first of which drops Elkins to his knees, before Elkins takes him down again. Elkins is able to ride his back for a couple minutes, before Connelly gets back up and they’re back to striking range.
Connelly gets back to his calf kick, but Elkins gets in close to land some punches and secure another takedown immediately following.
Elkins begins to take some serious damage in the third, as Connelly stuffs his initial takedowns and lands a number of nasty elbows up along the fence throughout the first half of the round. But, Elkins remains unfazed, and finds just enough space to separate and land some hard punches of his own.
This third round really is wild, they’re both going at it looking for the finish.
Elkins is able to secure a takedown with a couple minutes left in the final round and proceeds to take Connelly’s back, where he nearly secured a rear naked choke toward the end of the round.
Darren Elkins is now 3-1 in his latest four appearances following a four-fight skid.
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