Yikes! Talk about a rough patch. Darren Elkins, one of the most battle-hardened vets of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, is looking at some serious downtime.
Why, you ask? Well, he’s had a pretty nasty accident.
Elkins, a UFC featherweight, took to social media to break the news. Seems he’s had a pretty serious injury during practice. He’s known as “The Damage,” but I bet he didn’t see this one coming.
He posted on Instagram, “Current situation: I snapped my tibia and fibula in my right leg by freak accident during jiu-jitsu last night. Just got out of surgery where they put a nail in my leg.” Ouch, right?
As for when he’ll be back in action, it’s all up in the air right now. But if we look at other well-known fighters who’ve had similar injuries, it’s not looking too good. Anderson Silva, Chris Weidman, Conor McGregor – they were all sidelined for at least a year. And that’s a long time, especially for a 39-year-old like Elkins.
Before this setback, Elkins was on a roll. He’d just scored a third-round submission win over T.J. Brown in October. That was his only fight this year, but he’s been holding his own. He’s gone 2-2 in his last four fights and he’s still a fan favorite for his grit and his knack for comeback wins.
For now, he’s tied with former champ Max Holloway for the most appearances in the history of the UFC featherweight division, with 26. But with this injury, it’s anyone’s guess when he’ll be back in the ring.