Oban Elliott Eyes UFC Greatness Ahead of Pivotal Baku Showdown
Right now, all eyes are on Oban Elliott — “The Welsh Gangster” — as he gears up for what could be the defining moment of his UFC journey so far. Slated to face South Korea’s Ko Seok-hyeon at UFC Fight Night in Baku, Azerbaijan, Elliott is entering this fight with more than just physical preparation. He’s bringing the mindset of a man who’s not only climbed out of the trenches, but who refuses to ever go back.
Let’s get this straight — Oban Elliott is not just fighting for another win. He’s fighting to defend the life he built from the ground up. A few years ago, he was working night shifts on railway tracks and cleaning grills at Nando’s in Merthyr Tydfil to fund his MMA training. Now, he's standing on one of the biggest stages in combat sports, having already gone 3-0 inside the UFC octagon.
Originally scheduled to fight in Las Vegas against Ramiz Brahimaj, visa complications rerouted Elliott’s path. But the UFC didn’t let his momentum stall. Now, with a new opponent and a new country, Oban’s laser-focused on showing the world that his rise is no fluke. He’s been training all across Europe — Germany, France, Croatia, the Netherlands — sharpening his tools with elite fighters like Roberto Soldic, especially to prepare for Ko’s southpaw stance.
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This isn’t just about technique for Elliott. He knows when fight night arrives, the mental battle becomes even more important than the physical. "In the gym, it’s 90% physical and 10% mental," he says. "But on the night, that flips." His mental toughness, he believes, is what separates him. And with advice from legends like Michael Bisping guiding him through the storm of rising fame and pressure, Elliott seems more grounded and dangerous than ever.
Ko Seok-hyeon is no pushover — dubbed "The Korean Tyson," he's got an 11-2 record and brings heat. But Elliott’s not rattled. He sees every fight as a title defense — even if the gold isn’t officially around his waist yet. “In my mind, I’ve had that belt long before I even stepped into the cage,” he says.
That mindset was on full display during his thunderous knockout of Bassil Hafez at Madison Square Garden — a performance that earned him a $50,000 bonus and arguably changed his life. “That moment was everything I’d ever worked for,” he recalls. “When I look back at it, I just think, ‘Thank God it worked out.’”
Elliott isn’t just dreaming about the rankings — he’s gunning for them. He’s imagining himself headlining at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff one day, with a UFC belt around his waist, just as Paddy Pimblett dreams of doing the same at Anfield. And if his performance in Baku echoes what we’ve already seen, that dream won’t be far off.
For Elliott, the mission is crystal clear: keep winning, keep defending, and never forget the life he left behind. Because to him, every punch thrown and every round fought isn’t just sport — it’s survival.
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