‘They Will Love You No Matter What’ – Paul Elliott, The Gentle Giant With A Big Heart For Animals
British knockout machine Paul Elliott has built a reputation as one of the most fearsome men across heavyweight MMA. Put a furry friend in front of him, though, and all that ferocity disappears entirely.
The Englishman will return to action against undefeated Turkish juggernaut Shamil Erdogan in a high-stakes heavyweight MMA contest. That bout will headline ONE Fight Night 48 on Prime Video, which broadcasts live in U.S. primetime from Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium on Friday, October 2.
Before the TFT MMA product unleashes his ferocious power on the global stage once again, here’s a glimpse into the world he retreats to when the gloves come off.
The Animals That Invaded The Elliott Household
Growing up in his parents’ house in Middlesbrough, England, animals were never in short supply.
Dogs and cats came and went throughout Elliott’s childhood, and by the time he moved out as an adult, he half-jokingly reckons he had simply been swapped out for four legs and a wagging tail.
The 34-year-old shared:
“I’m definitely a dog fan. But the thing is, I’m not just a dog guy. I genuinely like all animals. When I was younger, growing up, we had cats. Then, when I was a teenager, we got our first dog, and from there, more have joined the pack.
“As I moved out, over the years, I think what has happened is my parents have replaced us with dogs. I think that’s what it was.”
That constant rotation of dogs traced back to one person in particular: his big-hearted mother. She would volunteer at rescue kennels and bond with the pooches.
But somewhere along the way, volunteering turned into something more permanent for her, and the family home grew accordingly.
Elliott explained exactly how her routine worked, and it painted the picture of a household that slowly became an unofficial rescue center of its own:
“She would walk them and spend time with them, so she would get accustomed to seeing them every day. What happened was, every time she realized a dog wasn’t getting taken, she’d end up taking them in. It was pretty cool because we got to see loads of different personalities.
“As for the cats, there were a lot around the neighborhood, which we might feed, and they might stay at our [house] for a while. We also had a neighbor with five cats, three of which basically ended up being at ours the whole time.”
Between the rescue dogs, the neighborhood strays, and even a pair of goldfish that made an appearance in the household at some point along the way, it is safe to say the Elliott family never had a shortage of company.
All of the dogs came with a personality entirely of its own. Gracie, Brooke, Asher, and Casper made up the pack in years gone by, though all four have since passed. Millie, Ava, and Bella currently hold down the fort at three strong.
At its peak, the household sort of resembled a proper little zoo, and picturing a growing 6-foot-1 heavyweight fighter trying to squeeze past that many paws in one house makes for a pretty amusing image. It never felt overwhelming to Elliott himself, though.
The gentle giant recalled:
“When I was in my twenties, we had five dogs, and as time went on, we had a couple pass away. But we had cats as well. So, we had five dogs and two cats. It was a bit of a zoo experience at my parents’ house.
“But it really wasn’t too much of an issue. We had our own rooms, and the dogs and cats stayed downstairs. They weren’t allowed upstairs, so it was fine.”
Why Animals Mean So Much To Elliott
With everyone keeping to their own space, the arrangement worked itself out naturally, and the perks quickly outweighed any inconvenience. The beach sitting just a short drive away certainly helped, giving the whole pack somewhere to burn off that morning energy together.
Most days, the dogs piled into the car for a short drive to the coastline, tails wagging before they even hit the driveway.
It became one of those small rituals Paul Elliott still looks back on fondly, and it says plenty about how deeply the family’s love for animals ran, a trait he likely inherited straight from his mother’s own big heart.
The 34-year-old reflected:
“I love animals because they love you no matter what. They’re happy to see you. Even if you’ve left the room for five minutes, you come back, and they’re happy to see you. Especially if you bring them up in the right manner, they’re generally loving and kind.
“I do get that every single animal has the instinct to fight, but nine times out of ten, they’re super friendly if you bring them up correctly. They just love you no matter what shape or size you are. You look after them, and they’ll love you back.”
These days, Elliott’s own living situation looks a little different.
He shares a home with his girlfriend, and the two have not brought a pet into the mix just yet, but the family dogs are never too far out of reach thanks to a standing Sunday dinner tradition at his parents’ house.
That does not mean a pet of his own is entirely off the table. The Englishman has thought about it, but he has his reasons for holding off a little longer.
Elliott said:
“Right now, I don’t want to have a pet knowing that I’m going to have to say goodbye at some point. We’ve got three lovely dogs at my parents’ house that we see and get friendly with. Even though we don’t see them every day, you still get accustomed to them, seeing them every week and knowing all their personalities.
“When my previous dogs passed away, it’s just not pleasant. So, I’m trying to minimize that for the time being. We will get a pet at some point, but I think it’s probably when the other three bite the dust in the future.”
For an MMA fighter who makes a living being feared on the global stage of ONE Championship, Elliott’s softest moments have always come from the animals who never once cared about his reputation.
Whenever the timing feels right, the heavyweight star plans to bring a furry friend back to his own place, and he knows it will be worth every bit of the heartbreak that comes with it, a lesson passed down straight from his mother.
Elliott offered:
“I would encourage humans to have pets because it brings you great happiness, great joy, and they will love you no matter what.”
