Darren Elkins Explains How Training With Team Alpha Male Has Improved His Game

MMAjunkie recently spoke to UFC fighter Darren Elkins ahead of his featherweight bout with Michael Johnson at UFC Fight Night 124. The fight is set for tomorrow and has been moved to the main card as a result of Uriah Hall vs. Vitor Belfort getting scratched. Below are some highlights.

Darren Elkins on his career and age: “I’m getting up there. I try not to focus on the negative. That’s not going to get me anywhere. I’m going to complain and get mad and it’s still going to be the same. I’d like to have more big fights or be higher on the card, but if you focus on that then you’re going to worry about other things. Then you’re going to lose, and it doesn’t really matter anyway.”

Darren Elkins on what he’s looking for with a win: “I’m just looking at the division: You go by the win streaks and the people that the champion has fought. There’s only a few guys that (Holloway) hasn’t fought. (If I win), I’m (at) six (straight) fights. I’ll have the second most wins behind him after this fight. I know he’s got Frankie Edgar next, but I want the guy that’s going to get me the title shot. Give me the No. 1 contender and make it the winner gets (to fight) for the championship.”

Darren Elkins on training at Team Alpha Male: “Training at Alpha Male has really helped me. My game is evolving a lot more. I think right now I’m reaching my peak, actually. At one point, I thought I was past this, then I changed teams and I got another five-fight win streak going, the second of my career. It’s consistency. I’m a hard worker and I get in there and no matter what, I train hard every day. For me, it’s about consistency. I went from a five-fight win streak, then I won, then I lost, then I won. So maybe I thought for a little while maybe the best of me was behind me. I didn’t want to be one of those guys that kept on fighting when they didn’t really have it anymore. I changed teams, I went to Alpha Male and reignited the fire, and I feel better than ever.”

His thoughts on the Fight: “I’m excited about the fight. I feel like he’s a great fighter, an exciting fighter. He’s real athletic with fast hands. When they told me about the fight, I was all in. I like the challenge – that’s a challenge that I wanted. He’s a big name, so I took that fight right away.