LAS VEGAS – Tim Elliott held nothing back when it came to being asked about his UFC 259 matchup.
“I think it’s a good matchup for me, one that we’ve been looking for,” Elliott told reporters, including MMA Junkie, at a Wednesday media day ahead of the event. “He was training with my coach that I’m with now for a while, and he left and went back to where he’s at. I know the gameplan to beat him. I know guys that have trained with him. I couldn’t pick a better fight.”
Elliott (16-11-1 MMA, 5-9 UFC) faces fellow flyweight Jordan Espinosa (15-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC) at Saturday’s UFC 259 event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The preliminary contest streams live on ESPN+ ahead of additional prelims on ESPN and a main card that streams on ESPN+ pay-per-view.
Espinosa currently trains in New Mexico at ABQ Kickboxing but previously worked with Glory MMA & Fitness in Kansas City, where Elliott now calls home. Elliott believes his teams’ knowledge of Espinosa provides him a real advantage into the contest, and he didn’t hold back on the scouting report.
“He’s a heavy jab-handed fighter,” Elliott said. “He’s a one-handed fighter. He’s all lead side. If I shut down his jab, he’s got nothing from his back side, so the gameplan is easy: Shut his jab down and crowd his jab and go from there.”
Elliott looks to build on the strength of a decision win over Ryan Benoit at this past July’s UFC on ESPN 13 event, while Espinosa is hoping to rebound from a September loss to David Dvorak.
Watch the video above to see Elliott’s full pre-fight media day availability.
Tim Elliott on UFC 259 opponent: ‘I couldn’t pick a better fight’
