After nearly a one-year lay-off where fight offers were not coming his way, Evan Elder (9-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC) wants at least a few more fights before his 28th birthday in April after he finished Darrius Flowers (12-8-1 MMA, 0-3 UFC) on July 13.
Elder said he is happy to have gotten back to work and that he can’t wait to fight again. On a scale of one to 10, Elder rates his performance over Flowers a 7. “The Phenom” submitted Flowers with an arm triangle choke 1:46 into the second round after a torrent first round in a fight Elder took on four days’ notice at high altitude in Denver, Colorado.
“It was good. Everything went good,” Elder told MMASucka. “But as always, there are plenty of things to improve on. I’m happy with the way things went with it being on such short notice and being able to capitalize on the opportunity. The only reason I care about how the fight went is just to see how I need to improve moving forward. I’m one step closer to getting to where I want to be and hopefully chasing down that belt.”
Elder said all fights are a “battle of wills,” though pointed out the short notice nature of this bout at elevation.
“With all of the factors that were at play, I kind of figured that when it came down to it, I would be able to withstand all those variabilities a lot better,” he said. “If I could get in there and put a pace on [Flowers], he would definitely wilt. I knew the finish would be coming at some point. I actually thought it would be a head-kick knockout. I’m happy with the arm triangle submission. It was probably the accumulation of the pace and entirety of the fight.”
Elder and Flowers had an action-packed first round where all facets of mixed martial arts were on display; striking predominantly early in the round with some grappling late.
Flowers appeared to taunt Elder in the first few minutes of their welterweight fight. Elder said the win was not any sweeter as a result.
“I don’t really pay any mind to that stuff,” he said. “We’re both in there trying to do a job. He’s trying to get his hand raised and I’m trying to get my hand raised. I think he probably knew that I was going to be the better fighter and the longer the fight went, the more it favored me. He probably figured that if he could draw me into some sort of crazy firefight and turn it into a pissing contest early on, that was his best chance of catching me and getting me out of there. I tried not to play into it and work my game plan. Ultimately, I prevailed.
“I’ll be honest with you, he almost did get me at one point, frustrated and wanting to shut him up. I was like, ‘Bro. Chill out,’” Elder said. “His strategy was working. I really believe that was his strategy. I also knew at the same time that I just had to stay composed and within myself and do what I was going to do. Not let him implement his game plan but implement mine. I always have a game plan of, I really think that my mind is stronger than most of the people I’m competing against. The longer a fight goes, the more it favors me. Also, the quicker it starts, the more it’s going to favor me. If I can go out there and get to work right away, then by the second round, within five minutes, I can get a lot of work done, as far as chipping away at your wanting to be there and your will to fight. I knew that if I came out hot; I didn’t want to engage in anything uncalculated or anything stupid, which is what I think he was trying to get me to do. But I knew that if I kept up the calculated pressure and really put a pace, it was going to make him break.”
Elder said he could keep a hard pace for 15 minutes if necessary, even if it means keeping on going with whatever gas in the tank he has.
“I’m sure the pace would slow down or whatever,” he said. “I’m going to force you to try and compete at my pace. Even if my pace slows, I think I’ll still outpace people. Eventually, I’ll drown them. My mindset whenever I go in there is I’m going to lead the dance, run this race, and you’re going to be forced to try to keep up with me. Eventually, I’m just going to leave you in the dust, and that’s when I’m going to make you quit.”
Elder does not care who the UFC pits against him next. Elder, a natural lightweight, said he wants to compete at 155. But he is not opposed to taking the right match-up at welterweight, especially if it’s short notice.
“There’s no way I could make lightweight on short notice. As far as an opponent goes, I don’t have anyone in particular. I’ll be happy with whoever the UFC gives me. Whoever they have next in line for me, I’ll make it through that test.”
The “when” in the equation is more important to Elder. He would love to fight again in October, he said. He “100%” wants another fight by the end of 2024, if not more.
“Since they kept me out for a year, I would like to make up for lost time, and hopefully, I can get two more in before the end of the year and still get three fights in the calendar year,” he said. “I just turned 27 in April. It would be super sick if I could get four, and even potentially five fights, by the time I turn 28. My 27th year, make it a really active one.”
Elder said he’s had a “few injures here and there,” but that he never turned down any fights; he just wasn’t getting offers.
“I was trying to get in there. I’m not sure why. I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason and that God worked in some pretty amazing ways in my life in this past year. He’s helped me to have some big revelations and make some big strides in my career and in my life. I’m thankful for the time off that He gave me, but now I’m super excited to get back to work, so I have to kick it into gear.”
