Oban Elliott: Welsh fighter ‘insanely grateful’ for UFC 309 moment

With the retirement of Jack Shore and Cory McKenna’s release this year, Elliott is now the lone Welsh fighter under contract in the UFC.

He insists he does not feel the pressure.

“I don’t put pressure on myself or my fights,” said the Merthyr-born fighter.

“It’s the same sport and art I’ve always done since a kid when I did it for free, did it for fun, so I’m just grateful I get to do it.”

When asked what advice he would give his younger self, Elliott said:

“I’d just say don’t even think about stopping yet young man, keep going.

“You see that vision that you can see so crystal clear, never let go of it, chase it and chase it, keep digging and digging.

“It will be so far away and then in the palm of your hands so keep going and stay out the pub!”

Elliott was back in the Shore Mixed Martial Arts gym in Abertillery just a week after his performance in New York.

“Of course I’m back in the gym,” said Elliott.

“Every single second I put in on that mat. I don’t see it as a chore, it’s something I’ve done for fun, to self medicate all my life and it’s something I see as money in the bank.”

Elliott says keeping a grateful attitude has been key to his successes.

“I feel like the more grateful you are for things, the more the good things come to you and I’m just enjoying the ride

“I can’t wait to see what I do next and how far I can take this.

“If it’s anything like how I see it going then it’s going to be fun.”

Elliott has made no secret of wanting to honour his late father Paul in his career.

The fight in Madison Square Garden provided a moment of celebration for their family, especially his mother.

“It’s just really emotional for me to talk to her, to see how happy she is for the life we’ve had to endure, the well documented darkness we went through.

“It meant the world to give something back in a positive way.

“As I look back now, that chapter of my life, I’ve capped that off, my debut year in the UFC, my way of avenging my hardships was always getting to the UFC.

“My first year I capped it off like that, it was like it was written because I believe it genuinely was written, onwards and upwards.”