Fighter of the Month: September 2011 – Jake Ellenberger
By Justin Bolduc
Fighter of the Month: Jake Ellenberger
Event: UFC Fight Night 25 (September 17, 2011)
Opponent: Jake Shields
Result: First round technical knockout
Jake Ellenberger had previously established himself as one of the hottest welterweight prospects in his UFC debut, despite losing, against former WEC champion Carlos Condit by fighting a highly-competitive bout. After rattling off impressive victories over Mike Pyle, John Howard, Carlos Eduardo Rocha, and Sean Pierson, Ellenberger was stuck in a bout with former EXC and Strikeforce champion Jake Shields.
Shields looked for the takedown immediately, but Ellenberger just threw him to the mat on the first attempt and shrugged off the second. Shortly after the two clinched up and Ellenberger smashed Shields in the body then the head with a pair of knees, dropping the former UFC contender to the mat face first. After a few follow-up punches, Ellenberger was pulled off and awarded the TKO win in only fifty-three seconds.
It was the first time in over ten years that Shields had been stopped and was impressive enough to earn Ellenberger knockout of the night honors from UFC brass. Ellenberger’s stock has shot up dramatically and he has found himself firmly in the world’s top ten rankings, if not the division’s top five. A good match-up for Ellenberger next would be to put him against the winner of the upcoming UFC 137 co-headliner between former UFC champion B.J. Penn and former Strikeforce champion Nick Diaz for the number one contender. If the UFC decides to give the winner of Penn versus Diaz the next title shot however, then fighting the loser of that bout, Josh Koscheck, or the loser of the Georges St. Pierre versus Carlos Condit title fight at UFC 137 would be a great match-up.
Well deserved! Feed him the winner of Penn and Diaz!