UFC Welterweight Bout: Rory MacDonald vs. Jake Ellenberger
Odds: ( -240 MacDonald / +190 Ellenberger )
Betting Pick: Ellenberger
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In the semi-main event of UFC on FOX 8, up and coming contender Rory “Ares” MacDonald will look to move one step closer to the top of the Welterweight division against tough veteran Jake “The Juggernaut” Ellenberger. MacDonald is one of the most exciting young prospects in the world, but he is going to have his hands full with the experienced, powerful Ellenberger. Can MacDonald’s youth and technique trump Ellenberger’s experience and power? Only time will tell.
Jake “The Juggernaut” Ellenberger is a long-time veteran of the Welterweight division who has used his physical strength, effective wrestling, and powerful punching to keep himself relevant near the top of the division for years. He isn’t the best in the world in any one particular area, but he’s an effective and durable fighter who puts it all together well and doesn’t have any glaring holes in his game. There is no question that he doesn’t have the same natural gifts that MacDonald has, but he is bigger, stronger, and has a lot more experience, which makes him a formidable opponent for anyone, much less a young, up-and-coming fighter.
Rory MacDonald is, in the eyes of many pundits, the future of the Welterweight division. MacDonald is the prototypical Mixed Martial Artist, equally adept at ending fights with strikes or submissions. He’s a solid wrestler with a ton of natural talent and athletic ability. The only real question mark at this point is his chin. Carlos Condit blew him up with punches in his one professional loss, and while Ellenberger may not have Condit’s striking prowess, he has more than enough punching power to turn MacDonald’s lights out if he catches him with a clean power shot.
This is a tough fight to call. I don’t think anyone doubts that MacDonald has a substantially higher ceiling than Ellenberger does, but that does not necessarily make MacDonald the better fighter right now. He has all the talent in the world, but he is still a bit raw, and I think he might have a tough time dealing with Ellenberger’s size advantage and superior physical power. I think this is going to be a hard-fought battle, but ultimately I think Ellenberger’s wrestling and punching power will allow him to pull off a significant upset via unanimous decision.
Prediction: Jake Ellenberger by Unanimous Decision.
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