mma / News

Elias Theodorou Says He Gets to Haunt Daniel Kelly’s Dreams With UFC Fight Night 121 Win

November 19, 2017 | Posted by Jeremy Thomas

Elias Theodorou spoke at the post-UFC Fight Night 121 press event about his win over Daniel Kelly and more. The highlights are below, per MMAjunkie:

On his altercation with Kelly a couple of days before the fight: “In some of the media, he was calling me two-faced. After (media day), we said, ‘Is it OK if we take the elevator with you?’ After the door shut, he says, ‘You know what, mother(expletive)?’ and starts cussing at me. He goes, ‘You’re gonna act all two-faced and say you’re gonna be my friend? None of this stuff.’ And he goes, ‘It doesn’t matter. We’re gonna fight and I’m never gonna see you again.’”

On being Kelly: “Now I get to haunt him in his dreams. But the important thing is, I have no animosity toward him. It’s a true honor stepping in the cage with him. … I didn’t shake his hand in the beginning (of the fight), but I did in the third round because it was a true honor.”

On what’s next: “I’ve still got to go back to the drawing board. For now, I’m happy I won against a really tough guy and I’m back on a win streak. Obviously, there’s things I could’ve done better….He’s resilient. He’s a true warrior – especially someone in his fourth decade. He’s been doing judo longer than I’ve been on this earth. As someone that’s only been doing martial arts for eight years in any capacity – and six of those years I’ve been professional – I’m always growing and I’m learning. And I have to do that from this fight.”