UFC 158 results/photos: Darren Elkins clips Antonio Carvalho, earns quick stop

MONTREAL – After four straight decision wins, Darren Elkins was hoping for a stoppage win. Unfortunately for all involved, he probably didn’t like the way he got it.

Elkins used a series of crisp right hands to wobble and drop opponent Antonio Carvalho, and referee Yves Lavigne jumped in for what looked like an early stoppage.

The featherweight bout was part of the preliminary card of Saturday’s UFC 158 event at Bell Centre in Montreal. It aired on FX following additional prelims on Facebook and ahead of a main card on pay-per-view.

Elkins pushed forward to open and worked jabs from length as he tried to close the distance and drive in for a takedown. Carvalho proved capable with his takedown defense, and Elkins was forced to engage in the standup game.

That turned out just fine.

A straight right hand to the chin stunned Carvalho, who shook his head as he looked to recover. Elkins saw the opening and scored with another right hand that sent his opponent buckling to the floor. Elkins then rushed forward to follow up on the damage, but Lavigne rushed in to stop the fight.

Unfortunately for Carvalho, he appeared to be recovering and popped immediately back to his feet. However, Lavigne had already wrapped up Elkins and waved off the contest.

Following the stoppage, which came at the 3:06 mark of the opening round, Elkins seemed a bit apologetic but did point out that he would have continued the assault had Lavigne not stepped in.

“I knew he was rocked,” Elkins said after the win. “It’s not my call. I would’ve kept on trying to finish him. He came right back up, so maybe it was just that he was hurt for a second, but I was going to go after him. I mean, that’s not my job.

“… I’m now the first featherweight in the history of the 145-pound UFC division to go 5-0. You know why I know that? My wife, Connie, has been texting me about it all week. That’s a pretty cool stat. Now I just want someone in the top 10. I don’t care who it is. Whoever doesn’t have a fight signed right now, who is in the top 10, I am ready. I’m here to get into the top 10 and fight for a title.”

Elkins (16-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC) is now 5-0 since dropping to 145 pounds. Carvalho (15-6 MMA, 2-2 UFC), meanwhiles, snaps a two-fight win streak.

Up-to-the-minute UFC 158 results include:

• Darren Elkins def. Antonio Carvalho via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 3:06
• Jordan Mein def. Dan Miller via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 4:42
• John Makdessi def. Daron Cruickshank via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Rick Story def. Quinn Mulhern via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 3:05
• T.J. Dillashaw def. Issei Tamura via KO (knee and punches) – Round 2, 0:26
• George Roop def. Reuben Duran via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

For complete coverage of UFC 158, stay tuned to the UFC Events section of the site.

Matt Erickson and Ben Fowlkes contributed to this report on-site in Montreal.