On Saturday, Tim Elliott almost etched his name into the annals of UFC history, coming remarkably close to channeling his inner Matt Serra and shocking the world with a first round stoppage of a dominant champion. After nearly submitting Demetrious Johnson with a d'arce choke, Elliott ended up losing the next four rounds on all three judges scorecards.
But it turns out Elliott almost channeled Travis Lutter as well. After the fight, Elliott revealed that his drop off was, in part, due to a difficult weight cut and that he was ready to come in overweight and forfeit his title shot but his coaches wouldn't let him.
"The weight cut killed me," Elliott said at the post-fight press conference. "The morning of the weigh-ins I was hurting pretty bad. The first time I've ever told my coaches I was done. I told James Krause I wasn't going back in the sauna, told him I would give up the 20 percent, I didn't care about the belt. He made me get back in there, he made me cut the weight, and I appreciate that he did that...I was hurting after the first round. Not my cardio but my muscles, my stomach. I was cramping a little bit and I know that's from the weight cut."
This was hardly Elliott's first go around at 125 pounds. He was the Titan FC flyweight champion and earned his shot at Johnson's belt by winning season 24 of The Ultimate Fighter reality show, competing and making weight four times over the span of a few weeks. In fact, this is his second stint in the UFC, having amassed a 2-4 record in the promotion from 2012-2015 with three of his losses coming against current top 10 flyweights. Elliott's other loss during that run was to now tenth ranked bantamweight John Dodson who made the move up after his own loss to Johnson (this one his second), something Elliott plans to imitate.
"I'd like to go up to [bantamweight]... Everything about this sport is fun for me. I do it because it's fun. It doesn't pay that well, so I feel like I could really compete at 135. I'll do better there when I feel good and I feel strong."
Despite not being able to perform at his best, Elliott gave the pound-for-pound king one of his stiffest tests to date, turning in an outstanding performance that earned him some new fans and had the crowd chanting his name at points, something Elliott was happy about.
"I'm a fighter for the fans. I'm not wearing girl pants and talking trash. I want to get fans through fighting, not anything else. A lot of people [say] it's not the fight game any more, it's the entertainment game but it's not to me. I love to fight, I love fighting, nothing makes me happier."
One of those fans is UFC President Dana White. Elliott said that though he hasn't secured a UFC contract yet, after the fight White told him the UFC was keeping him around. Even if they don't though, Elliott says he's perfectly content with his fighting future.
"He told me I wasn't going anywhere but I got told that before. Sean Shelby told me after my John Dodson fight that if I fight like that I'll always have a job in the UFC. Then a couple fights later, I was cut. But I don't really care too much about that. If they don't want me here then I can get fired here and I'll go fight somewhere else. I'm going to fight no matter what. It doesn't matter if it's for the UFC or anywhere else, I'm going to go out on my shield and give it everything I've got."
MUST-READ STORIES
Results. TUF 24 results can be found right here.
No foolin'. Conor McGregor responds to title situation, "I'm still two-weight world champion."
Fired. The UFC parted ways with Matt Hughes and Chuck Liddell.
Fired back. After withdrawing from their fight at Rizin, Wanderlei Silva fires back at Mirko Cro Cop.
Look ma, no hands. John Kavanagh explains why Conor McGregor put his hands behind his back at UFC 205.
EXTRA CREDIT
Iron jaw. Tim Bissell delves into what makes a fighter's "chin" better or worse.
MEDIA STEW
The God of Violence smiles upon us this weekend.
And he fights this dude. Holy shish I couldn't be more pumped.
Ronda's gonna get a month long push here.
Did not see this coming.
Obligatory MacPosts.
Gerald Harris' dope-ass slam.
Countdown to Interimception.
LISTEN UP
Luke's post-show.
6th Round.
Fight Society
TWEETS
Boss.
So @MightyMouseUFC is live streaming on Twitch right now... Just a few hours before a title fight, NBD #TUFFinale https://t.co/togt4dRFED
— Champions MMA (@ChampionsFight) December 4, 2016
Gray spent a lot of time responding to people about this.
Thanks to the wonders of social media, when the real thing comes up short, one can always morph into Gray "The Cyber Bully" Maynard.
— Ryan Hall (@ryanhall5050) December 4, 2016
Real American hero.
I gotta be the first announcer to talk about fights, live, while @danhendo shoves a beer down the back of my shirt. Its the little things!
— Brian Stann (@BrianStann) December 4, 2016
Same number of defenses as all the other champions combined.
4 those of u w amnesia! #TimElliot put on a great showing but Champions adapt, find the weakness & exploit it @MightyMouseUFC #AndStill @ufc pic.twitter.com/8cdbOBiEle
— Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) December 4, 2016
I thought that was me! Haha great slam fam! I'll pass you the king of slam crown,tell your daughter she's a Princess now, mine knows already https://t.co/Pg5r1wiL0M
— Rampage Jackson (@Rampage4real) December 4, 2016
Had ellenberger for main dish, now it's time for a side of rice-cerrone #makeUFCgreatagain #easymoney #ufc
— Jorge Masvidal UFC (@GamebredFighter) December 5, 2016
Amazing display of world class skill last night between @MightyMouseUFC and @TElliott125 !! Tremendous respect for you both. #FlyweightsRule
— Joseph Benavidez (@JoeJitsu) December 4, 2016
Somehow I had no idea these two were married until this.
After a win in the co-main event, @JoeJitsu tells @MeganOlivi there's only one fight he wants: "Demetrious." https://t.co/ZV639Jgw4J
— UFC (@ufc) December 4, 2016
Just finished getting drug tested by USADA #UFCSacramento
— Sage Northcutt (@sagenorthcutt) December 4, 2016
Tyron is now in full chase Conor mode but after 205 he might not catch as much hell for it.
For all you @TheNotoriousMMA fans Hashtag #AskKenny or #AskTyron if you want to see this scrap #ufc
— Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) December 4, 2016
People will champion Elliott postfight but speaks to me DJ can roll into off-kilter defense like this, adapt and still take over the fight.
— Jordan Breen (@jordanbreen) December 4, 2016
I am not.
Of course https://t.co/pGWUkM3fbp
— Kyoji Horiguchi (@kyoji1012) December 4, 2016
If you don't like DJ, I don't like you.
Damn!! Might Mouse just gave Elliot a nose honk in round 3!! https://t.co/nvRz1qikze
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) December 4, 2016
If everyone would be honest. This man right here @MightyMouseUFC is the absolute best! Better than all of us! #realtalk ALL OF US!
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) December 4, 2016
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Gian Villante (14-7) vs. Saparbek Safarov (8-0); UFC Fight Night 102, December 9.
Juliana Lima (8-3) vs. J.J. Aldrich (4-1); UFC Fight Night 102, December 9.
Joe Lauzon (26-12) vs. Marcin Held (22-5); UFC Fight Night 103, January 15.
Bryan Caraway (21-7) vs. Jimmie Rivera (20-1); UFC Fight Night 103, January 15.
Chan Sung Jung (13-4) vs. Dennis Bermudez (16-5); UFC Fight Night Houston, February 4.
Felice Herrig (11-6) vs. Alexa Grasso (9-0); UFC Fight Night Houston, February 4.
Evan Dunham (18-6) vs. Abel Trujillo (15-6); UFC Fight Night Houston, February 4.
Ovince Saint Preux (19-9) vs. Jan Blachowicz (19-6); UFC Fight Night Houston, February 4.
Adam Milstead (8-1) vs. Curtis Blaydes (6-1); UFC Fight Night Houston, February 4.
Chas Skelly (16-2) vs. Chris Gruetzemacher (13-1); UFC Fight Night Houston, February 4.
James Vick (9-1) vs. Johnny Case (22-5); UFC Fight Night Houston, February 4.
Justin Ledet (8-0) vs. Dmitriy Sosnovskiy (10-0); UFC Fight Night Houston, February 4.
TODAY IN MMA HISTORY
2009: Jon Jones suffered the only loss of his professional career, a DQ resulting from illegal elbows against Matt Hammill at The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale. Also on the card, Roy Nelson made his UFC debut, knocking out Brendan Schaub to win The Ultimate Fighter heavyweight tournament and Kimbo Slice made his UFC debut winning a decision over Houston Alexander.
2015: Herica Tiburcio submitted Michelle Waterson with a guillotine choke to become the Invicta atomweight champion at Invicta FC 10.It was Waterson's final fight with Invicta before jumping to the UFC.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The next season of TUF should be Women's 145.
Have a good one y'all.
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