Joe Rogan is a UFC commentator. Photo: YouTube Reproduction
Packed with unmissable attractions, the UFC 314 promises to stop the world of MMA next Saturday (12). In addition to the main fight between Alexander Volkanovsky e Diego lopes, who are competing for the vacant featherweight belt (up to 65,7 kg) left by Ilia Topuria, the event brings clashes such as Michael chandler e Paddy Pimblett, Bryce mitchell e Jean Silva, Yair Rodriguez e Patrick Pitbull, Among others.
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But one of the most enduring fighters in the history of the sport also returns to the octagon in Miami. He has been with the organization for 15 years and has a special place in the heart of Joe Rogan, who in 2017 witnessed one of the most incredible episodes during his tenure as a UFC commentator: the American Darren Elkins.
That year, the featherweight Darren Elkins was already a veteran of the octagon, having faced names like Jeremy Stephens e Charles of the Bronx. The incredibly durable and stubborn American was on a three-fight winning streak heading into UFC 209, which took place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas in March of that year. With Elkins ranked 14th, the underdog faced undefeated Mirsad Bektic, who was ranked 13th in the division.
Bektic's status as the heavy favorite seemed to be right from the start of the fight, as he completely dominated the opening round with his grappling. Elkins was bleeding heavily after the first five minutes, but the second round didn't get any easier for him as the Bosnian fighter continued to impose his will.
However, like a good movie plot, things started to change in the third and final round. Bektic began to slow down while Elkins continued to advance like a zombie. 'The Damage' continued to pressure his opponent before landing a powerful head kick that dropped him, unleashing what can only be defined as pure emotion right after the stoppage. (see below)
Haven't seen this on the TL much this week.
After being dominated for two and a half rounds, Darren Elkins came back to knockout Mirsad Bektic.Still gives me chills# UFCVegas32
- Alex Behunin (@AlexBehunin) July 23, 2021
During an episode of the podcast 'The Joe Rogan Experience', Rogan recalled the moment that brought him to tears as he spoke about the emotional highs and lows of the sport.
"When Darren Elkins “When I beat Mirsad Bektic, it was so hard for me not to cry in the Octagon. It was so hard! I’m going to start crying right now. When I interviewed him after that fight, I was like, this guy just emptied himself, I mean, he emptied his whole soul. He took a f——ing beating for two and a half rounds and he didn’t give up an inch,” he said.
With Elkins now returning to the UFC 314 against julian erosa, Rogan knew that retelling this episode would make him emotional, and that's exactly what happened.
“There was no give up in him, nothing, zero and then finally, in the third round, he catches that guy and there’s this f—— roar that he makes after the fight is stopped, where he throws his arms back and he’s moving around the cage and screaming, he’s covered in blood, right there. I’m going to have to wipe the tears out of my eyes right now,” he concluded.
Darren Elkins e julian erosa make the fifth fight of the preliminary card of UFC 314.
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