Darren Elkins vs. Yadier del Valle
UFC Fight Night · August 8, 2026 · Meta Apex
OddsDarren Elkins +528·Yadier del Valle -662(DraftKings)
Sentiment says Elkins, but every number says del Valle. The Cuban is faster, more accurate, and dangerous everywhere Elkins likes to take the fight — half his wins are submissions, and Elkins' takedown defense has hovered near 50 percent for years. Elkins' path is the same as it's always been: survive the early storm, drown his man late. That formula has produced miracles before, but against a 30-year-old finisher it's more likely we see del Valle pull away on the cards or find a choke in the championship-round minutes of Elkins' career.
The Matchup
This is a passing-of-the-torch fight with real stakes on both sides: Elkins is expected to retire after this one, and del Valle needs to rebound from the first loss of his career. The age gap is stark — 42 versus 30 — and del Valle holds clear statistical edges in accuracy, defense, and finishing rate. But Leavitt just showed that pressure grappling can drag del Valle into ugly waters, and ugly waters are where Elkins has lived for 16 years. The question is whether the oldest version of The Damage still has the pace to make it a grind.
Tale of the Tape
| Darren Elkins | Yadier del Valle | |
|---|---|---|
| 29-12 | Record | 10-1 |
| 42 | Age | 30 |
| 5'10" | Height | 5'9" |
| 71" | Reach | 69" |
| Orthodox | Stance | Southpaw |
| United States | Country | Cuba |
| Team Alpha Male | Team | Gracie Barra Westchase |
The Numbers
Career UFC averages. Red bar = statistical edge.
Darren Elkins
“The Damage”
Darren Elkins is one of the longest-tenured fighters in UFC history — the Indiana native debuted in the promotion in 2010 and has fought 30 times inside the Octagon. Nicknamed The Damage for his bloody, never-say-die comebacks, he's beaten names like Mirsad Bektic, Dennis Bermudez, and Michael Johnson, and once rode a six-fight win streak to the edge of title contention. At 42, the Team Alpha Male veteran is expected to make this his farewell fight after a 16-year UFC run. His game has always been the same: relentless pace, wrestling, and a chin that refuses to quit.
- LJulian Erosa · TKO (punches)UFC 314 · April 12, 2025
- WDaniel Pineda · Decision (unanimous)UFC Fight Night: Hernandez vs. Pereira · October 19, 2024
- WTJ Brown · Submission (rear-naked choke)UFC Fight Night: Yusuff vs. Barboza · October 14, 2023
Yadier del Valle
“The Cuban Problem”
Yadier del Valle is a Cuban featherweight prospect who earned his UFC contract on Dana White's Contender Series in 2024 after going unbeaten on the Texas regional scene. He announced himself with back-to-back first-round rear-naked chokes of Connor Matthews and previously unbeaten Isaac Dulgarian, showing a knack for hurting opponents on the feet and taking the back. His hype train hit its first bump in February 2026, when grappler Jordan Leavitt outwrestled him to a decision for his first pro loss. Now training out of Gracie Barra Westchase, he's looking to prove the Leavitt fight was a speed bump, not a ceiling.
- LJordan Leavitt · Decision (unanimous)UFC Fight Night: Strickland vs. Hernandez · February 21, 2026
- WIsaac Dulgarian · Submission (rear-naked choke)UFC Fight Night: Garcia vs. Onama · November 1, 2025
- WConnor Matthews · Submission (rear-naked choke)UFC Fight Night: Burns vs. Morales · May 17, 2025