Darren Elkins Thinks Brian Ortega Should Face Him

Darren Elkins spoke following his win over Michael Johnson at UFC Fight Night 124 over the weekend about a bout with Brian Ortega and more. Highlights are below, per MMAjunkie:

On a fight with Brian Ortega: “In my eyes I think we should (fight). It’s going to be a while before Frankie Edgar and Holloway are going to fight. Then it’s going to be a while before someone fights anyway, so let’s fight this out and see who really the No. 1 contender is. Maybe if he waits around, he loses his title shot. We’ve seen that happen before too. I don’t think I’m going to wait it out because I don’t think I’m going to get it, so let’s fight for the No. 1 contendership.”

On his win over Michael Johnson: “I don’t have the quickness he has, so I had to slow him down, and I had to make him work. I had to keep my defense as high as I could and absorb the big punches. You could tell right at the end of the second he was starting to fade some, especially because he hit me with some big shots and I was standing right in front of him. It frustrates people. You hit some people with some of those exact same shots, they’re sleeping, and I’m still there. Other people just run away, but I’m coming right at you. That was part of it. The pressure I was putting on him, even when I was getting hit, it kind of broke him in the second.”

On why a fight with Ortega makes sense: “He’s on a five-fight (winning streak), and I’m on a six-fight (streak). He’s definitely earned his position. He’s looked great, I’ve watched his fights, and I’m a fan of his, but that fight makes sense to me. Let’s do me and Ortega. Winner gets a title shot. He’s tough, but I thrive on those type of fights.”