UFC Fight Night: Gamrot vs. Salkilld  8 Aug 2026 · Meta APEX, Las Vegas, Nevada, US

Yadier del Valle defeats Darren Elkins by KO/TKO

Loss Darren Elkins 29-13-0
Win Yadier del Valle 11-1-0
KO/TKO · left hand

Round 1 · 0:35

Elkins vs del Valle — Featherweight · UFC Fight Night: Gamrot vs. Salkilld

Predictions summary

What happened

The result, the defining moments, and what the verdict means.

Del Valle defended the first takedown attempt and landed a knee to the head.

A short left hook wobbled Elkins on the break before a second left hand dropped him.

The referee stopped the fight at 0:35 of round one.

Pre-fight analysis — how we saw it going in

Case for Elkins

Elkins carries a 29-12 record into this one and is 3-2 across his last five, the deeper sample by a wide margin. Fourteen of his twenty-nine wins went to a decision, so the long, attritional version of this fight is the one his record is built on. At 42 he is twelve years older than his opponent.

Case for del Valle

Del Valle is 10-1 and 4-1 across his last five, so the only defeat of his professional career is also the most recent thing on it. Six of his ten wins ended inside the distance — four by submission, two by knockout — and at 30 he is the fresher fighter by twelve years. Elkins's most recent outing ended in a first-round TKO loss to Julian Erosa.

What We Were Watching For

  • Whether Elkins takes early pressure cleanly after a first-round TKO loss last time out.
  • How del Valle responds to the first adversity since the only loss of his career.
  • Whether Elkins can make the fight long and awkward, where his experience edge is largest.
  • How a twelve-year age gap reads in the third round.
Records & career stats
Elkins vs del Valle
Elkins del Valle
  1. OutputSig. strikes landed / min 3.39 4.12
  2. Striking def.Striking defense 51% 56%
  3. DurabilitySig. strikes absorbed / min 3.34 2.13
  4. Takedown def.Takedown defense 56% 62%
  5. FinishingFinish rate 52% 60%
29-12-0
Record
10-1-0
3-2 last 5
Recent formRecent formWin–loss record over the fighter’s last five bouts, newest first, as carried in their UFC/FightMetric career stats.
4-1 last 5
United States
Nationality
Cuba
42
Age
30
1.78 m
Height — Elkins leads
1.75 m
180 cm
Reach — Elkins leads
175 cm
Orthodox
StanceStanceWhich side a fighter leads from — a striking term, not a religious one. Orthodox: right-handed, left foot and hand forward (the common default). Southpaw: the mirror image, right side forward (usually a left-hander). Switch: changes between the two during a fight.
Southpaw
52%
Finish rateFinish % — del Valle leadsFinish rateThe share of a fighter’s wins that ended inside the distance — by KO/TKO or submission — rather than going to the judges’ scorecards. Higher means more finishes.
60%
9
Wins by KO/TKOKO wins — Elkins leads
3
6
Wins by submissionSub wins — Elkins leads
4
3.39
Sig. strikes landed / minStr / min — del Valle leadsSignificant strikes landed per minuteAverage number of significant strikes a fighter lands for every minute of fight time — a read on striking output and pace. From UFC/FightMetric career stats.
4.12
3.34
Sig. strikes absorbed / minAbs / min — del Valle leadsSignificant strikes absorbed per minuteAverage number of significant strikes a fighter takes for every minute of fight time. Lower is better — it means they get hit less often. From UFC/FightMetric career stats.
2.13
51%
Striking defenseStrike def. — del Valle leadsStriking defenseThe percentage of opponents’ significant strikes that do not land — strikes slipped, blocked or evaded. Higher is better. Not the same as striking accuracy, which counts your own strikes that land. From UFC/FightMetric.
56%
56%
Takedown defenseTD def. — del Valle leadsTakedown defenseThe percentage of opponents’ takedown attempts that are stuffed. Higher means harder to put on the mat. From UFC/FightMetric.
62%
11:19
Avg. fight timeAvg. timeAverage fight timeThe mean length of the fighter’s bouts (minutes:seconds) — a rough read on whether they tend to finish early or go the distance. From UFC/FightMetric.
07:26
Team Alpha Male (Urijah Faber's Ultimate Fitness)
Team
Main Street Boxing and Muay Thai

Career stats per UFC.com; recent form is each fighter's last five bouts. Record is as of fight night; career stats, recent form and win totals are the latest on file and may include this fight. Bars compare each stat on a fixed scale; the “Edge” marker flags the leading corner where the gap is meaningful. The snapshot plots five career rates — output, striking defense, durability (strikes absorbed, inverted), takedown defense and finish rate — each normalised on its own scale.

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Who Called It?

How the analysts' picks held up once the cage door closed.

MMA Prediction Guru (MMAPG)
Hear it — 46:24

Current pick evidence

Picked: Darren Elkins · Dec

Fight result: Yadier del Valle · KO/TKO

Goes against the grain, doubting del Valle's finishing equity and durability, and backs Elkins to win a decision.

“So, give me Darren Elkins via decision.”

Analyst track record Track record countsWinner counts resolved calls. Method and Round count only after a correct winner call. Underdog counts picks for a strict underdog in frozen pre-fight odds.Methodology

  • Winner Accuracy 59.4% 41 28
  • Method Accuracy 57.7% 15 11
  • Round Accuracy 12.5% 1 7
  • Underdog Accuracy 30.8% 4 9
View full track record (69 calls)
Andrew Richardson
Read source

Current pick evidence

Picked: Darren Elkins · Dec

Fight result: Yadier del Valle · KO/TKO

MMA Mania's UFC Vegas 120 X-Factor preview has Andrew Richardson picking Darren Elkins by decision.

Analyst track record Track record countsWinner counts resolved calls. Method and Round count only after a correct winner call. Underdog counts picks for a strict underdog in frozen pre-fight odds.Methodology

  • Winner Accuracy 58.6% 34 24
  • Method Accuracy 70.6% 24 10
  • Round AccuracyNo qualifying picks
  • Underdog Accuracy 14.3% 1 6
View full track record (58 calls)
Bedtime MMA
Hear it — 18:09

Current pick evidence

Picked: Yadier del Valle · Sub · Round 1

Fight result: Yadier del Valle · KO/TKO

Thinks Elkins should be retired and that the younger, more durable del Valle takes him down and finishes it early.

“Yair Delval is going to win this. Darren Elkins should probably be retired. I think this is going to be a round one submission for Yair Delval.”

Analyst track record Track record countsWinner counts resolved calls. Method and Round count only after a correct winner call. Underdog counts picks for a strict underdog in frozen pre-fight odds.Methodology

  • Winner Accuracy 70.8% 121 50
  • Method Accuracy 62.9% 56 33
  • Round Accuracy 38.5% 10 16
  • Underdog Accuracy 48.5% 16 17
View full track record (171 calls)
TheWeasle
Hear it — 16:57

Current pick evidence

Picked: Yadier del Valle · Sub · Round 2

Fight result: Yadier del Valle · KO/TKO

Points to the athleticism and footwork gap plus Elkins's long layoff, and expects a second-round submission.

“I'm going to go with Yadier Dva. Utterly destroying Darren Alkins by submission in the second round.”

Analyst track record Track record countsWinner counts resolved calls. Method and Round count only after a correct winner call. Underdog counts picks for a strict underdog in frozen pre-fight odds.Methodology

  • Winner Accuracy 70.6% 115 48
  • Method Accuracy 61.8% 47 29
  • Round Accuracy 36.5% 19 33
  • Underdog Accuracy 52.9% 9 8
View full track record (163 calls)
AJ Devito
Hear it — 42:15

Current pick evidence

Picked: Yadier del Valle · KO/TKO

Fight result: Yadier del Valle · KO/TKO

Expects a finish either from ground-and-pound or on the feet, and deliberately leaves the round open.

Analyst track record Track record countsWinner counts resolved calls. Method and Round count only after a correct winner call. Underdog counts picks for a strict underdog in frozen pre-fight odds.Methodology

  • Winner Accuracy 69.6% 165 72
  • Method Accuracy 58.4% 59 42
  • Round Accuracy 75.0% 6 2
  • Underdog Accuracy 46.2% 12 14
View full track record (237 calls)
Michael Chiesa
Hear it — 5:48

Current pick evidence

Picked: Yadier del Valle

Fight result: Yadier del Valle · KO/TKO

Backs del Valle's judo and grappling base to outclass a declining Elkins, without naming a method.

“his hand raised in this match up.”

Analyst track record Track record countsWinner counts resolved calls. Method and Round count only after a correct winner call. Underdog counts picks for a strict underdog in frozen pre-fight odds.Methodology

  • Winner Accuracy 67.7% 42 20
  • Method Accuracy 50.0% 2 2
  • Round AccuracyNo round picks
  • Underdog Accuracy 14.3% 1 6
View full track record (62 calls)
KennyOkoyeMMA
Hear it — 11:12

Current pick evidence

Picked: Yadier del Valle

Fight result: Yadier del Valle · KO/TKO

Reads it as primarily a striking fight that Elkins is more likely to get caught in.

“But I think Del Vali gets it done.”

Analyst track record Track record countsWinner counts resolved calls. Method and Round count only after a correct winner call. Underdog counts picks for a strict underdog in frozen pre-fight odds.Methodology

  • Winner Accuracy 65.6% 42 22
  • Method Accuracy 63.6% 7 4
  • Round Accuracy 0.0% 2
  • Underdog Accuracy 60.0% 6 4
View full track record (64 calls)
DFS By The Numbers
Hear it — 10:05

Current pick evidence

Picked: Yadier del Valle · KO/TKO · Round 1

Fight result: Yadier del Valle · KO/TKO

Calls this the easiest matchup on the card for the favourite and wants the first-round knockout specifically.

“So, yeah, I'm going to Alva here. If it's anything other than a Delva KO1, I mean Delva should probably get arrested for dropping the ball this bad.”

Analyst track record Track record countsWinner counts resolved calls. Method and Round count only after a correct winner call. Underdog counts picks for a strict underdog in frozen pre-fight odds.Methodology

  • Winner Accuracy 64.4% 94 52
  • Method Accuracy 58.5% 48 34
  • Round Accuracy 35.9% 14 25
  • Underdog Accuracy 35.0% 7 13
View full track record (146 calls)
We Want Picks
Hear it — 12:58

Current pick evidence

Picked: Yadier del Valle

Fight result: Yadier del Valle · KO/TKO

Takes del Valle on Elkins being too old and slow with a chin compromised by the Erosa loss, but commits to no method.

“Yady is the pick.”

Analyst track record Track record countsWinner counts resolved calls. Method and Round count only after a correct winner call. Underdog counts picks for a strict underdog in frozen pre-fight odds.Methodology

  • Winner Accuracy 64.1% 93 52
  • Method Accuracy 40.0% 2 3
  • Round AccuracyNo qualifying picks
  • Underdog Accuracy 34.5% 10 19
View full track record (145 calls)
HopperMMA
Hear it — 9:59

Current pick evidence

Picked: Yadier del Valle · Sub · Round 1

Fight result: Yadier del Valle · KO/TKO

Expects del Valle to take Elkins down and submit him, citing the knockout loss to Erosa as evidence Elkins no longer belongs at this level.

“Yair del Valle. Yair is going to maul him. I'm going to go Yair del Valle by sub in the first round.”

Analyst track record Track record countsWinner counts resolved calls. Method and Round count only after a correct winner call. Underdog counts picks for a strict underdog in frozen pre-fight odds.Methodology

  • Winner Accuracy 63.6% 77 44
  • Method Accuracy 64.6% 42 23
  • Round Accuracy 47.2% 17 19
  • Underdog Accuracy 26.3% 5 14
View full track record (121 calls)
Half The Battle
Hear it — 17:37

Current pick evidence

Picked: Yadier del Valle · KO/TKO

Fight result: Yadier del Valle · KO/TKO

Sees del Valle's grappling and striking plus his youth overwhelming a 42-year-old Elkins.

“I think Yair Delvie comes out here and knocks him out.”

Analyst track record Track record countsWinner counts resolved calls. Method and Round count only after a correct winner call. Underdog counts picks for a strict underdog in frozen pre-fight odds.Methodology

  • Winner Accuracy 56.1% 55 43
  • Method Accuracy 71.4% 10 4
  • Round Accuracy 50.0% 1 1
  • Underdog Accuracy 26.1% 6 17
View full track record (98 calls)

Analyst picks: Bedtime MMA Hit; TheWeasle Hit; AJ Devito Hit; Michael Chiesa Hit; KennyOkoyeMMA Hit; DFS By The Numbers Hit; We Want Picks Hit; HopperMMA Hit; MMA Prediction Guru (MMAPG) Miss; Andrew Richardson Miss; Half The Battle Hit.

Analyst prediction scorecards
Expand row
Bedtime MMA171 resolved calls
Bedtime MMA
Hear it — 18:09

Current pick evidence

Picked: Yadier del Valle · Sub · Round 1

Fight result: Yadier del Valle · KO/TKO

Thinks Elkins should be retired and that the younger, more durable del Valle takes him down and finishes it early.

“Yair Delval is going to win this. Darren Elkins should probably be retired. I think this is going to be a round one submission for Yair Delval.”

Analyst track record Track record countsWinner counts resolved calls. Method and Round count only after a correct winner call. Underdog counts picks for a strict underdog in frozen pre-fight odds.Methodology

  • Winner Accuracy 70.8% 121 50
  • Method Accuracy 62.9% 56 33
  • Round Accuracy 38.5% 10 16
  • Underdog Accuracy 48.5% 16 17
View full track record (171 calls)
Historic market Favourite call, market price 87.5%. del Valle · Sub · R1del Valle · KO/TKO R1HitMissHit
TheWeasle163 resolved calls
TheWeasle
Hear it — 16:57

Current pick evidence

Picked: Yadier del Valle · Sub · Round 2

Fight result: Yadier del Valle · KO/TKO

Points to the athleticism and footwork gap plus Elkins's long layoff, and expects a second-round submission.

“I'm going to go with Yadier Dva. Utterly destroying Darren Alkins by submission in the second round.”

Analyst track record Track record countsWinner counts resolved calls. Method and Round count only after a correct winner call. Underdog counts picks for a strict underdog in frozen pre-fight odds.Methodology

  • Winner Accuracy 70.6% 115 48
  • Method Accuracy 61.8% 47 29
  • Round Accuracy 36.5% 19 33
  • Underdog Accuracy 52.9% 9 8
View full track record (163 calls)
Historic market Favourite call, market price 87.5%. del Valle · Sub · R2del Valle · KO/TKO R1HitMissMiss
AJ Devito237 resolved calls
AJ Devito
Hear it — 42:15

Current pick evidence

Picked: Yadier del Valle · KO/TKO

Fight result: Yadier del Valle · KO/TKO

Expects a finish either from ground-and-pound or on the feet, and deliberately leaves the round open.

Analyst track record Track record countsWinner counts resolved calls. Method and Round count only after a correct winner call. Underdog counts picks for a strict underdog in frozen pre-fight odds.Methodology

  • Winner Accuracy 69.6% 165 72
  • Method Accuracy 58.4% 59 42
  • Round Accuracy 75.0% 6 2
  • Underdog Accuracy 46.2% 12 14
View full track record (237 calls)
Historic market Favourite call, market price 87.5%. del Valle · KO/TKOdel Valle · KO/TKO R1HitHitNot called
Michael Chiesa62 resolved calls
Michael Chiesa
Hear it — 5:48

Current pick evidence

Picked: Yadier del Valle

Fight result: Yadier del Valle · KO/TKO

Backs del Valle's judo and grappling base to outclass a declining Elkins, without naming a method.

“his hand raised in this match up.”

Analyst track record Track record countsWinner counts resolved calls. Method and Round count only after a correct winner call. Underdog counts picks for a strict underdog in frozen pre-fight odds.Methodology

  • Winner Accuracy 67.7% 42 20
  • Method Accuracy 50.0% 2 2
  • Round AccuracyNo round picks
  • Underdog Accuracy 14.3% 1 6
View full track record (62 calls)
Historic market Favourite call, market price 87.5%. del Valle · to windel Valle · KO/TKO R1HitNot calledNot called
KennyOkoyeMMA64 resolved calls
KennyOkoyeMMA
Hear it — 11:12

Current pick evidence

Picked: Yadier del Valle

Fight result: Yadier del Valle · KO/TKO

Reads it as primarily a striking fight that Elkins is more likely to get caught in.

“But I think Del Vali gets it done.”

Analyst track record Track record countsWinner counts resolved calls. Method and Round count only after a correct winner call. Underdog counts picks for a strict underdog in frozen pre-fight odds.Methodology

  • Winner Accuracy 65.6% 42 22
  • Method Accuracy 63.6% 7 4
  • Round Accuracy 0.0% 2
  • Underdog Accuracy 60.0% 6 4
View full track record (64 calls)
Historic market Favourite call, market price 87.5%. del Valle · to windel Valle · KO/TKO R1HitNot calledNot called
DFS By The Numbers146 resolved calls
DFS By The Numbers
Hear it — 10:05

Current pick evidence

Picked: Yadier del Valle · KO/TKO · Round 1

Fight result: Yadier del Valle · KO/TKO

Calls this the easiest matchup on the card for the favourite and wants the first-round knockout specifically.

“So, yeah, I'm going to Alva here. If it's anything other than a Delva KO1, I mean Delva should probably get arrested for dropping the ball this bad.”

Analyst track record Track record countsWinner counts resolved calls. Method and Round count only after a correct winner call. Underdog counts picks for a strict underdog in frozen pre-fight odds.Methodology

  • Winner Accuracy 64.4% 94 52
  • Method Accuracy 58.5% 48 34
  • Round Accuracy 35.9% 14 25
  • Underdog Accuracy 35.0% 7 13
View full track record (146 calls)
Historic market Favourite call, market price 87.5%. del Valle · KO/TKO · R1del Valle · KO/TKO R1HitHitHit
We Want Picks145 resolved calls
We Want Picks
Hear it — 12:58

Current pick evidence

Picked: Yadier del Valle

Fight result: Yadier del Valle · KO/TKO

Takes del Valle on Elkins being too old and slow with a chin compromised by the Erosa loss, but commits to no method.

“Yady is the pick.”

Analyst track record Track record countsWinner counts resolved calls. Method and Round count only after a correct winner call. Underdog counts picks for a strict underdog in frozen pre-fight odds.Methodology

  • Winner Accuracy 64.1% 93 52
  • Method Accuracy 40.0% 2 3
  • Round AccuracyNo qualifying picks
  • Underdog Accuracy 34.5% 10 19
View full track record (145 calls)
Historic market Favourite call, market price 87.5%. del Valle · to windel Valle · KO/TKO R1HitNot calledNot called
HopperMMA121 resolved calls
HopperMMA
Hear it — 9:59

Current pick evidence

Picked: Yadier del Valle · Sub · Round 1

Fight result: Yadier del Valle · KO/TKO

Expects del Valle to take Elkins down and submit him, citing the knockout loss to Erosa as evidence Elkins no longer belongs at this level.

“Yair del Valle. Yair is going to maul him. I'm going to go Yair del Valle by sub in the first round.”

Analyst track record Track record countsWinner counts resolved calls. Method and Round count only after a correct winner call. Underdog counts picks for a strict underdog in frozen pre-fight odds.Methodology

  • Winner Accuracy 63.6% 77 44
  • Method Accuracy 64.6% 42 23
  • Round Accuracy 47.2% 17 19
  • Underdog Accuracy 26.3% 5 14
View full track record (121 calls)
Historic market Favourite call, market price 87.5%. del Valle · Sub · R1del Valle · KO/TKO R1HitMissHit
MMA Prediction Guru (MMAPG)69 resolved calls
MMA Prediction Guru (MMAPG)
Hear it — 46:24

Current pick evidence

Picked: Darren Elkins · Dec

Fight result: Yadier del Valle · KO/TKO

Goes against the grain, doubting del Valle's finishing equity and durability, and backs Elkins to win a decision.

“So, give me Darren Elkins via decision.”

Analyst track record Track record countsWinner counts resolved calls. Method and Round count only after a correct winner call. Underdog counts picks for a strict underdog in frozen pre-fight odds.Methodology

  • Winner Accuracy 59.4% 41 28
  • Method Accuracy 57.7% 15 11
  • Round Accuracy 12.5% 1 7
  • Underdog Accuracy 30.8% 4 9
View full track record (69 calls)
Historic market Underdog call, market price 12.5%. Elkins · Decdel Valle · KO/TKO R1MissNot applicable — the winner call missedNot applicable — the winner call missed
Andrew Richardson58 resolved calls
Andrew Richardson
Read source

Current pick evidence

Picked: Darren Elkins · Dec

Fight result: Yadier del Valle · KO/TKO

MMA Mania's UFC Vegas 120 X-Factor preview has Andrew Richardson picking Darren Elkins by decision.

Analyst track record Track record countsWinner counts resolved calls. Method and Round count only after a correct winner call. Underdog counts picks for a strict underdog in frozen pre-fight odds.Methodology

  • Winner Accuracy 58.6% 34 24
  • Method Accuracy 70.6% 24 10
  • Round AccuracyNo qualifying picks
  • Underdog Accuracy 14.3% 1 6
View full track record (58 calls)
Historic market Underdog call, market price 12.5%. Elkins · Decdel Valle · KO/TKO R1MissNot applicable — the winner call missedNot applicable — the winner call missed
Half The Battle98 resolved calls
Half The Battle
Hear it — 17:37

Current pick evidence

Picked: Yadier del Valle · KO/TKO

Fight result: Yadier del Valle · KO/TKO

Sees del Valle's grappling and striking plus his youth overwhelming a 42-year-old Elkins.

“I think Yair Delvie comes out here and knocks him out.”

Analyst track record Track record countsWinner counts resolved calls. Method and Round count only after a correct winner call. Underdog counts picks for a strict underdog in frozen pre-fight odds.Methodology

  • Winner Accuracy 56.1% 55 43
  • Method Accuracy 71.4% 10 4
  • Round Accuracy 50.0% 1 1
  • Underdog Accuracy 26.1% 6 17
View full track record (98 calls)
Historic market Favourite call, market price 87.5%. del Valle · KO/TKOdel Valle · KO/TKO R1HitHitNot called

9 of 11 nailed it.

The experts above are a lens, not credentials we conferred — analyst, fighter or betting desk.

No AI predictions are available for this fight yet.

No market odds are available for this fight yet.

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