LAS VEGAS – Evan Elder beat Genaro Valdez with a unanimous decision Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC on ESPN 49 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Take a look inside the fight with Elder, who picked up his first UFC win after an 0-2 start.
Evan Elder vs. Genaro Valdez
Result: Evan Elder def. Genaro Valdez via unanimous decision (30-26, 29-28, 29-28)
Updated records: Elder (8-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC), Valdez (10-3 MMA, 0-3 UFC)
Key stats: Elder outstruck Valdez 112-85.
Elder on the fight's key moment
“That dude’s tough as nails, man. I hit him with that and I felt my knee connect and I was like, ‘Oh, this is it.’ I thought he was done – I was going to finish him. Obviously, I didn’t. But, dude – I knew going into the fight, this dude’s tough as nails. That’s what we got ready for.”
Elder on winning to honor his grandfather
“I lost my grandpa a couple weeks ago and I haven’t really fully dealt with it yet, just trying to put my head down and keep my nose to the grindstone, get through this fight camp. He told my grandma and my dad that that’s what he wanted me to do if he was to pass away. He was getting sick for a while. So I did what he told me to do and came here and got the work done. I know he’d be happy. He’d be proud.”
Elder on what he wants next
“What I do want to call out, though, is I’m ready to – hey, I love the (UFC) Apex. I’m grateful to fight anywhere for the UFC. But I would definitely like to fight in front of some fans. This was such an amazing experience, too, because I actually ended up having like 10 people here in the Apex, which was spectacular to me. My little brother got to be here, and that was just one of the coolest things. I know it really means a lot to him. So I hope that after this, I can get on an arena card. I think I’ll sell quite a bit of tickets and get a big group out there.”
To hear more from Elder, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 49.
