Evan Elder figured second round was where he’d make his move on Darrius Flowers at UFC Denver
Evan Elder beat Darrius Flowers with a second-round submission Saturday to open the preliminary card at UFC on ESPN 59 at Ball Arena in Denver.
Take a look inside the fight with Elder, who won for the second straight time and picked up his first submission in more than five years.
Elder on the fight’s key moment
Jul 13, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Evan Elder (red gloves) fights Darrius Flowers (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
âHonestly, I wasnât sure if I was going to submit him. He did a pretty good job keeping me off him in the first round. I wasnât trying to be too overzealous. I thought I was going to finish him in the second. I knew heâs going to come here fighting for his life out here in the first round. Everybodyâs tough that first round. Second and third is what weâre made of, so I knew that I could put him away after that.â
Elder on the short-notice assignment
Jul 13, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Evan Elder (red gloves) celebrates defeating Darrius Flowers (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
âMan, it feels great. I got a call Tuesday, getting out of training, so I was on four daysâ notice â helped (it was) a weight class of 170. I made weight pretty easy. So four daysâ notice â I donât care if itâs four months, four weeks, four hours, four minutes: Give me a call. Iâm here, baby.â
Elder on what he wants next
Jul 13, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Evan Elder (red gloves) celebrates defeating Darrius Flowers (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
âIâm trying to get in here as soon as possible. Iâm trying to break necks and cash checks. UFC, Dana White, put me back in here. Iâm trying to make some money.â
To hear more from Elder, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkieâs event hub for UFC on ESPN 59.
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