'I couldn't be more prepared' – Elliott set for Ko

BBC News

a day ago

Welsh welterweight Oban Elliott insists he is in peak condition as he prepares to face South Korea's Seokhyeon Ko at UFC Fight Night in Baku, Azerbaijan on Saturday.Elliott, nicknamed "The Welsh Gangster" was originally set to fight on 31 May at UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas against Ramiz Brahimaj. That bout was cancelled due to visa issues, but the UFC moved swiftly to keep the 27-year-old active, rescheduling him for this weekend's card.Elliott, who has been training across Europe with some of the sport's elite, believes the late switch in opponent will not affect his performance."I couldn't be more prepared," Elliott said. "The only difference this time is Ko is a southpaw, but with my main sparring partner being Roberto Soldic, it's the best preparation I could've asked for. "I feel very good. I'm ready. There's nothing I haven't seen."
Also known as "The Korean Tyson," Ko Seok-hyeon comes into the contest with an impressive 11-2 record, He is coming through the same path as Elliott in Dana White's contender series, but the Welshman remains respectful of the challenge ahead."He's a great fighter. I respect anyone chasing success in this sport," Elliott added. "This is the biggest fight of my life."Elliott's preparation has seen him travel extensively, training with top-tier fighters across Germany, France, Croatia and the Netherlands."I've trained with every style you can think of – the best guys in the world," he said. "It's been great experience for me."Mental toughness, Elliott believes, will be the defining factor on the night."Everyone is composed in the gym. A training camp is 90% physical and 10% mental," he explained."But when the fight comes around, it flips. Then it's 90% mental, because everybody is physically ready. "I couldn't be more prepared for it. For me, it just feels like another day in the office."
Looking beyond Baku, Elliott has his sights set on the UFC rankings and is not shy about his ambitions."These rankings – someone, somewhere, made that list," he said. "But on my list, I'm number one. Whoever they send to me is coming for my spot, so send whoever you want… just don't expect to get them back."The Merthyr Tydfil native hopes to one day compete for a UFC title in front of a home crowd at Cardiff's Principality Stadium, while also highlighting the rapid growth of mixed martial arts across the UK."Paddy [Pimblett] could get his title fight at Anfield, and I could get mine in the Principality Stadium one day," said Elliott. "We've got the power to take over the UFC, that's for sure."His remarks come at a time when British fighters are enjoying a surge of success in the UFC, with talent from across the UK continuing to make a strong impact on the sport's biggest stage.