Preview: UFC on ESPN 27 ‘Sandhagen vs. Dillashaw’

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Featherweights

NR | Darrick Minner (26-11, 2-1 UFC) vs. NR | Darren Elkins (25-9, 15-8 UFC)

ODDS: Minner (-150), Elkins (+130)

Elkins has proven that he is not completely done yet, but there is still some worry that the moment is coming for “The Damage.” After all, that nickname does not fit Elkins because of the damage he dishes out but rather the abuse he has been able to absorb over a long career, all while still marching his way to win after win. After spending a few years as a grinding veteran spoiler, it was nice to see Elkins put together a six-fight winning streak—it included two of his signature comebacks against Mirsad Bektic and Michael Johnson—that made him an unlikely fringe contender. However, once Elkins hit his ceiling as a contender, he hit it hard. Losses to Alexander Volkanovski, Ricardo Lamas and Ryan Hall all turned into one-sided beatings of some form, as Elkins kept eating damage while pursuing a turn in momentum that never came. After kicking off 2020 with a loss to Nate Landwehr, Elkins stopped his skid with a win over Luiz Eduardo Garagorri and stayed off the UFC cut line. He will look to build on that momentum with another win here against Minner, who is coming off what might be a career-best performance.

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After a long regional career, Minner seemed to be a finished product upon hitting the UFC, which came with a pretty clear approach. Minner dumps out his gas tank in the hopes of catching his opponent with a quick finish and pays the price if the fight goes any length of time. Through two UFC fights, that pattern continued. His promotional debut saw him suffer a second-round finish against Grant Dawson, and Minner followed it with a 52-second submission of T.J. Laramie. However, Minner’s win over Charles Rosa in February came as a shock. Besides being one of the best wins on his ledger, Minner managed to go 15 minutes without getting tired, earning his first decision win since 2015. If those cardio gains hold up here, it probably cinches the fight for Minner. He is the more damaging and aggressive striker, as well as the more dangerous finisher on the mat, and should maintain the advantage if nothing else. With that said, the bet is that Elkins can make Minner work harder than Rosa did and take over the fight late, even if that margin for error is getting thinner on both sides; Minner is improving and Elkins is in the later stretches of his career. This would have been a much easier call at basically any point before now, but the pick is Elkins via decision.

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