Tim Elliott Had No Problems With the UFC Cutting Him

Tim Elliott spoke with MMAjunkie ahead of his fight with Demetrious Johnson at TUF 24 Finale. Some highlights are below:

On his UFC release after his initial unsuccessful run: “Honestly, I had no problems being cut by the UFC. I thought it kind of sucked, but you’ve got to win. I felt like the only person who really beat me in the UFC was Joseph Benavidez. Zach Makovski laid on me and was a boring fight, John Dodson ran backward for three rounds, Ali Bagautinov ran backward for three rounds. I didn’t have the best performances and I could have definitely done better, but you’ve got to win. The UFC wants winners and I wasn’t winning. I get it.”

On getting motivated to return to the company: “Being fired by the UFC and having my baby, it lit a fire under my ass. That’s what got me to where I’m at now.”

On being a father: “I’m a stay-at-home dad, so I spend every second with my kid, from the moment she wakes up to the moment she goes to bed. To leave her for seven weeks at a time when she’s growing and developing a personality, it was tough. (It was the toughest thing I ever had to do) by far.”