Oban Elliott: 'Obnoxious, cross-eyed goofball' ready to take UFC by storm

Railway worker Oban Elliott is on track to make UFC his new career - Credit: @sashshots

"I went on my phone and the first thing I saw in the comments was, 'What an obnoxious, cross-eyed goofball'. And I thought, 'How do they know me so well?'"

Those were the words of Oban Elliott in the immediate aftermath of his bout with Kaik Brito - a bout that led to a dream contract offer with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

Welshman Elliott, 26, went through an epic three-round battle with his Brazilian opponent on Dana White's Contender Series, eventually outpointing him 29-28, 29-28, 28-28 to win by majority decision.

Another referee may have drawn the bout to a close and ended Elliott's dream in the second round after he took an onslaught from Brito, but thankfully for Elliott this one - Jacob Montalvo - did not.

"I'm glad of the ref, a big shout out to him for letting it go on, because I was still in there," Elliott told BBC Sport.

"The saying is 'you can't go swimming and not get wet' - I got drenched."

Brito trapped his opponent in an armbar submission in that August contest, with the ring bell that signalled the end of the second round seemingly saving Elliott from injury or defeat.

Elliott came out firing in the third round, taking the fight to his opponent and establishing control.

It was a round that would ultimately seal the deal as Elliott not only took the bout but impressed UFC president White sufficiently to earn a contract.

"I remember saying to him [White], I just got done with a world champion and if you want me to add everyone in this room to the list then don't sign me, but I know you'll do the right thing," Elliott said.

Minutes later, the UFC president confirmed he had a spot for Elliott.

"I don't know anyone who wants it badder," said White.

Tears on home turf

Elliott says it has been a humbling experiencing returning to his native Merthyr Tydfil.

"Not to sound cringey, but I've welled up with tears a couple of times," he said.

"I've been out having a couple of beers and it's so overwhelming having people come up to me, congratulating me, people I've known for years.

"I'm so grateful for the support I've had, I never thought I'd have this much support ever."

The contract has also made the night shifts for railway worker Elliott easier to get through. He is regularly out maintaining and repairing tracks.

"I don't care about the night shifts now," he said.

"They're all talking nonsense on the tracks, it's [pouring] down with rain, but I can relax a bit now.

"It was annoying being there because I needed the money; now I'm there cause I want to be there with the boys."

Elliott's first bout as a fighter in the promotion will be at UFC 298 on 17 February 2024, when he takes on American Val Woodburn (7-1) at welterweight on the same night as Alexander Volkanovski headlines against Ilia Topuria.

"I'm definitely going to make an impact on my debut, the same as I did on the Contenders Series," said Elliott.

"I'd rather burn out than fade away in this game, so I'm going to be giving it 100% in the cage, out the cage, on the way to the cage, everything.

"It's the best year of my life, the best achievement, and it's beyond my expectations the way the [Brito] fight went.

"I don't think it will ever sink in the way I got in, but the work begins now."