UFC Welterweight Bout: Jake Ellenberger vs. Nate Marquardt
Odds: ( -170 Ellenberger / +140 Marquardt )
Betting Pick: Ellenberger
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In a featured Welterweight showdown, Nate “The Great” Marquardt returns to the UFC to square off against long-time veteran Jake “The Juggernaut” Ellenberger. In a lot of ways, these guys have similar styles, with solid wrestling and good punching to go along with it. Marquardt, though, is the more technique-oriented fighter and has a much better ground game, while Ellenberger is the stronger and more physically imposing of the two. Can Marquardt’s technique trump Ellenberger’s physical power and dominant wrestling?
Jake “The Juggernaut” Ellenberger is a very dangerous and heavy-handed wrestler who does a great job of using his imposing physical presence and wrestling ability to control his opponents and soften them up for the knockout. He is equally adept at throwing big power punches and using the clinch and the cage to control the pace of a bout. While he is a long way from the UFC Welterweight division’s most technical fighter, he is a dangerous guy to have on top of you and every punch he throws has mean intentions. There is no doubt that he is a better wrestler than Marquardt, or that he has heavier hands. He just has to fight smart and not give Marquardt any big openings that he can exploit.
Nate “The Great” Marquardt is one of the UFC’s most skilled and experienced Welterweights. Since starting his professional career in 1999, Marquardt has fought many of the best fighters in the world at locations all over the globe. What makes Marquardt special is that he is a very complete fighter and he is especially adept at making his opponents pay for mistakes. Against Ellenberger, he is going to be somewhat overmatched in terms of physicality, so he is going to have to do the most with his technique in order to keep Ellenberger off his game.
This is another tough fight to call, but I think the edge has to go to Ellenberger. Marquardt looked distinctly underwhelming in his last out, a decision loss to Tarec Saffiedine in Strikeforce. I think Ellenberger is big enough, strong enough, and a good enough wrestler that Marquardt is going to have a hard time establishing his offense. One of Marquardt’s biggest advantages is his experience, but Ellenberger has been around the block almost as many times as he has. Ultimately, I think Marquardt’s best days are sadly behind him, and in his present state I don’t think he can overcome Ellenberger’s superior strength and ability to dictate the pace and position of the fight. Ellenberger by unanimous decision.
Prediction: Jake Ellenberger by Unanimous Decision.
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