'Sky is the limit' for rising UFC star Elliott

Oban Elliott's latest victory came on the undercard of Jon Jones' win against Stipe Miocic

"I believe in you stud."

Those were the words of Oban Elliott's mixed martial arts hero Chael Sonnen on Saturday night, as the Welshman prepared to step out into one of the world's most famous arenas.

If Elliott was nervous, those nerves dissipated with those five words.

The Merthyr Tydfil welterweight marched to the octagon in New York’s Madison Square Garden and delivered a standout performance.

It was a display which ultimately netted him a $50,000 (£39,612) performance of the night bonus.

With one thunderous right hand in the third round, the 'Welsh Gangster' delivered on the words from the 'American Gangster' as he beat Bassil Hafez by TKO.

It was a punch in the vein of boxing legend Joe Calzaghe, who dismantled Roy Jones Jr in the same venue, 16 years prior.

"To get it done in Madison Square Garden, like I always dreamed of, my first finish [in the UFC] in MSG, that will live forever," said Elliott.

"I know what I can do in the octagon and to go out and do it regardless of the stage, to go out and get it done in the UFC is big enough."

Elliott's victory capped off an impressive debut year in the promotion.

He is the first Welshman to fight on three pay-per-view cards, winning all three.

After two decision wins, Elliott earned his first finish.

It was a necessary one for the Welshman, with one of the judges having the score at that point of the fight in favour of Hafez by two rounds to zero.

"Don't leave it in the hands of the judges," he added.

"I've done that a lot lately, so maybe it would have been karma if I'd done that again."

The win moves Elliott to 12-2 in his professional career.

Currently on an eight-fight win streak, the 26-year-old is improving with every bout.

"The sky is the limit, I'm going to keep getting better and better every fight," said Elliott.

"Every time you do the walk out, the weight cut, you improve as a man."

In his post-fight press conference Elliott paid tribute to the legends who had fought in the same arena.

"I'm big on history, I think the greatest human being to ever walk the Earth was Muhammad Ali," he said.

"I stood on the same scales as him and Joe Frazier stood [in 1971].

"I took comfort in thinking I was taking part in this historical weekend before the fight had even unfolded, it was amazing."

Both the occasion and the setting lived up to the dreams forged in the early part of Elliott's career.

"When I was [fighting] in the pubs, in my own little head I was in MSG pinging the shots off," he added.

"It’s been a lifetime of dreaming, a lifetime of working, it’s not always come my way but I’m glad I never gave up, it’s so surreal."

Elliott gave his appreciation to family in attendance, with his mother, brother, cousins and countless aunts and uncles there to support him.

"To go from where I’ve come from and what I’ve been through in my life, I get to give moments like that to my family now," reflected Elliott.

"I’ll be a proud man forever and nobody can take that off me."

He also paid tribute to his father Paul, who took his own life when Oban was seven years old.

"My father is always with me because I had a flag made when he died and it’s as old as the time he passed away."

Oban Elliott's flag is always carried to the cage in the pocket of coach Richard Shore

What next for the 'Welsh Gangster'?

With UFC announcing a Fight Night event in London in March 2025, Elliott could look to have another home bout, following his July win over Preston Parsons in Manchester.

However, the promotion is yet to confirm any fights for that card.

"We're still just scratching the surface," said Elliott.

"I've got a mental career planned out and it's slowly starting to unfold in front of everyone else."

Prior to the fight, Elliott got a new tattoo across the top of his chest which reads 'fortes fortuna adiuvat' - fortune favours the brave.

With displays like Saturday night in New York, Elliott is clearly going to live by that mantra as his promising fighting career continues.