UFC 319: Tim Elliott post-fight interview
UFC 319 winner Tim Elliott spoke to MMA Junkie and reporters post-fight after his second-round submission of Kai Asakura.
CHICAGO – Tim Elliott met with MMA Junkie and other media members Saturday after his win over Kai Asakura at UFC 319.
Elliott (21-14-1 MMA, 10-11 UFC) upset Asakura (21-6 MMA, 0-2 UFC) with a second-round submission to open up the main card at United Center in Chicago. Elliott, a former flyweight title challenger, pulled the upset against the 3-1 favorite.
Now Elliott says he’s hoping the UFC recognizes his recent run – four wins in five fights, and back-to-back first-round submission wins – and rewards him with a new deal.
“This is my favorite thing in the world to do,” Elliott said at his post-fight news conference. “… When I can’t fight, I feel like my life is not complete. I don’t know what the f*ck I’m going to do when I retire because then I’m just going to be a fighting dog with no fight left. I’m not going to retire gracefully from the UFC. They’re going to have to tell me, ‘You’ve got to go, man.’ I’m going to be here until they make me go.”
Elliott said he think Asakura, who made his highly anticipated UFC debut in a title fight against champion Alexandre Pantoja, will rebound – but it might take a while.
“It sucks for him. He’s an ex-champ, but he’s going to be fine,” Elliott said. “He’s still got a lot more fight left in him. He’s still a fighter who could be a UFC champion – I have no doubts about him. But he’s spent his whole career fighting in a square ring, not an octagon. It’s totally different. I couldn’t imagine making those adjustments in two fights.”
Check out Elliott’s full post-fight interview in the video above.
