Author: Matt Erickson

Court McGee Prefers a Stoppage, but is Just Fine Getting Third UFC Victory

Filed under: UFC, NewsRegardless of how he got it done, Court McGee was glad to get back in the fight after 11 months on the shelf.

McGee returned after an 11-month layoff with knee and hand injuries. But after submission wins in his first two UFC fi…

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Regardless of how he got it done, Court McGee was glad to get back in the fight after 11 months on the shelf.

McGee returned after an 11-month layoff with knee and hand injuries. But after submission wins in his first two UFC fights, including the Season 11 Finale of “The Ultimate Fighter” to take that crown, McGee needed three rounds Saturday to get past Dongi Yang in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night 25.

Thought another stoppage win would’ve been fine with him, McGee said there were positives he can take out of going the distance.

There’s no substitute for mat time,” McGee told MMA Fighting on Saturday after his win. “I’m grateful that I had a hard three-round fight, but it’s nice to have that feeling and feel somebody tap or submit – to finish somebody. … When I get in there and finish somebody – that’s an awesome, awesome feeling. I’m still grateful I went three rounds and I got the decision. I’ll take it for what it is, and I’m grateful for what it is. Do I think I can do better and improve? Yeah, but it is what it is.”

McGee (14-1, 3-0 UFC) won by unanimous decision, getting scores of 30-27, 29-28 and 30-28 from the three cageside judges in New Orleans. But the third round saw McGee get tagged by Yang, and he had to persevere.

“Luckily, I was born with heart,” McGee said. “I feel you’re either born with it or not. Thank goodness tonight I was. I may not be the prettiest fighter, but I’m tough. That played a role in it tonight.”

McGee said the fight with Yang showed him some areas he plans to work on immediately. But as far as the infamous cage rust, McGee said he experienced none.

“I’ll go back and improve and stay focused, just like I am,” McGee said. “I didn’t feel like I had any ring rust or anything. … The only thing I think I could have done was commit to a shot and take him down a little bit earlier, work some ground. But I don’t look at the destination, I look at the journey. This is part of the journey – learning and improving. I don’t think practice makes perfect – progress rather than perfection. I feel like I’m progressing. I’m happy. I’m content with my win, but I can always improve.”

 

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Layoff Teaches Alan Belcher Patience, Believes UFC Title Shot Will Come

Filed under: UFC, NewsNEW ORLEANS – If Alan Belcher’s mind wasn’t made up before Saturday, it sounds like it is now.

Belcher returned to work for the first time in 16 months, following a pair of successful eye surgeries for a detached retina, and mad…

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NEW ORLEANS – If Alan Belcher‘s mind wasn’t made up before Saturday, it sounds like it is now.

Belcher returned to work for the first time in 16 months, following a pair of successful eye surgeries for a detached retina, and made quick work of Jason MacDonald at UFC Fight Night 25 in New Orleans, winning by first-round TKO.

But after the fight, Belcher said he needed the win over MacDonald to be sure he was making the right decision to continue fighting rather than considering retirement.

“Even up until tonight, I was kind of uncertain of what I wanted to do,” Belcher said at the post-fight press conference after his win. “I gave my all in this training camp and everything, but I was nervous as hell going into this fight, coming back.”

But Belcher’s nerves apparently dissipated quickly. The win for Belcher (17-6, 8-4 UFC) was his third straight and fifth in six fights – the only blemish in that stretch being a controversial split decision against Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC 100. And going into the fight with MacDonald, Belcher had four straight post-fight bonus wins, as well.

And now that things went perhaps even better than he could have expected? Well, Belcher doesn’t see any reason he can’t be right back in the hunt for the middleweight title, the way he was before he was on the shelf for more than a year.

“I missed the feeling, and I feel like I can definitely continue down the path I was on – trying to go for a title shot,” Belcher said. “I think that’s what I’m going to do now.”

Belcher had plenty of support from the crowd at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. His home is in Biloxi, Miss., also on the Gulf Coast and a little over an hour away.

But despite that boost from the fans, and despite the adrenaline coming immediately after the fight, Belcher said he won’t start thinking about a future title shot, necessarily – even though he predicts one will come if he keeps on track.

“I still want to take it one fight at a time,” Belcher said. “Before I had the injury, I was in such a hurry to try and get a bunch of wins and get to the top and everything. Through this whole experience, it just taught me to be a lot more patient. I’ve got a feeling that the title shot is going to come faster than I want it to now, so I’m not really worried about it now.”

 

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Jake Ellenberger Surprised at Quick Finish of Jake Shields at UFC Fight Night 25

Filed under: UFC, NewsNEW ORLEANS – In what was unquestionably the most emotional fight of Jake Shields’ career, the former champion ran into a buzzsaw in Jake Ellenberger.

In the main event of UFC Fight Night 25 in New Orleans, Ellenberger handed Sh…

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NEW ORLEANS – In what was unquestionably the most emotional fight of Jake Shields‘ career, the former champion ran into a buzzsaw in Jake Ellenberger.

In the main event of UFC Fight Night 25 in New Orleans, Ellenberger handed Shields the quickest loss of his career with a 53-second TKO. The loss comes just three weeks after the death of Shields’ father and manager, Jack Shields.

“It’s unbelievable – Jake Shields is a world champion, so I can’t explain how I feel right now,” Ellenberger said. “Just keeping the pressure – that was the strategy coming in here. I came out with the W and it feels great.”

Ellenberger (25-5, 5-1 UFC) landed a left and a right, then moved in on Shields, tying him up. He threw one right knee, then a second that landed on the button. Shields dropped to the canvas, and Ellenberger pounced and landed several shots from Shields’ back before the fight was stopped.

Shields (26-6-1, 1-2 UFC) appeared to go limp when the knee landed, then continued to look finished when he wasn’t covering up from Ellenberger’s strikes. But the former Strikeforce middleweight champion said after the fight he didn’t think it should have been stopped.

“I’m just frustrated,” Shields told Joe Rogan. “I got hit with a good hit. I thought I could still fight, but it is what it is. I thought I could keep fighting, but the ref thought it was time to stop it. There’s nothing I can do.”

Ellenberger’s win gives him five straight in the welterweight division. Champion Georges St-Pierre defends his title against Carlos Condit next month, and a fight between BJ Penn and Nick Diaz could determine the next contender after Condit. But Ellenberger’s quick win over Shields will have his name in consideration.

Ellenberger, though, said he won’t think about where he should fall in the division.

“It really doesn’t matter where I think I’m at. It’s up to the UFC, and whoever they tell me to fight, I’m going to fight,” Ellenberger said.

Ellenberger also said he was surprised he won the fight as quickly as he did. It was the fastest fight in Shields’ career, and obviously his fastest loss. It was only the second time in Shields’ career that he has been stopped, and the first time since 2000.

“I definitely could have envisioned myself winning this fight – but not that quick,” Ellenberger said. “It happened fast, but I trained hard for this fight and I knew I was ready. … The ref’s job is to stop the fight, so I’m going to go until he stops me.”

In the co-main event, Court McGee returned for the first time in 11 months and beat Dongi Yang by unanimous decision. McGee, the Season 11 winner of “The Ultimate Fighter,” was rocked in the third round, but held on to get the victory, winning by scores of 30-27, 29-28 and 30-28.

And Alan Belcher returned for the first time in 16 months following a pair of eye surgeries and stopped Jason MacDonald in the first round. The win came just about an hour away from Belcher’s Biloxi, Miss., home.

“It felt great, man – the crowd definitely gave some energy,” Belcher said. “Even up until tonight, I was uncertain what I wanted to do. I was nervous as hell going into this training camp. I missed the feeling, and I feel like I can definitely continue down the path I was on and go for a title shot. I’ve got a feeling the title shot’s going to come faster than I want it now.”

Also on the main card, featherweight Erik Koch won his fourth straight with a unanimous decision victory over Jonathan Brookins.

UFC president Dana White after the fight handed out $55,000 bonus awards to four fighters. Ellenberger took the Knockout of the Night, delivering the night’s only KO or TKO. TJ Waldburger, one of four submission wins, won Submission of the Night. And Lance Benoist and Matt Riddle won Fight of the Night for their preliminary card slugfest, won by Benoist in his UFC debut by unanimous decision.

 

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UFC Fight Night 25 Bonuses: Jake Ellenberger Collects $55,000 for KO of Night

Filed under: UFC, NewsNEW ORLEANS – In the battle of the two Jakes, Ellenberger dismantled Shields quickly in the first round, and he’s an extra $55,000 richer because of it.

In the main event of UFC Fight Night 25 in New Orleans on Saturday, Jake El…

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NEW ORLEANS – In the battle of the two Jakes, Ellenberger dismantled Shields quickly in the first round, and he’s an extra $55,000 richer because of it.

In the main event of UFC Fight Night 25 in New Orleans on Saturday, Jake Ellenberger stopped Jake Shields with a 54-second TKO – his fifth straight win in the welterweight division. After the fight, UFC president Dana White awarded Ellenberger the Knockout of the Night bonus of $55,000.

The night’s other bonus winners were Lance Benoist and Matt Riddle for Fight of the Night and TJ Waldburger for Submission of the Night, a first-round triangle choke win over Mike Stumpf, who was making his UFC debut.

Ellenberger became the first fighter to stop Shields since 2000, Shields’ first pro loss in his third fight. Shields, the former Strikeforce middleweight champion, went more than six years without a loss before he fell to welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre in April. Shields now has two straight losses for the first time in his career, and falls to 1-2 in the UFC – his lone win being a controversial split decision over Martin Kampmann in his debut last October.

Ellenberger’s fifth straight win was also his fourth KO or TKO in his last five fights. The win is likely to put him squarely into the welterweight title picture. St-Pierre defends his title against Carlos Condit next month, with BJ Penn and Nick Diaz also in consideration.

Waldburger recorded the night’s first submission, and it held up with three other submissions on the night, plus a verbal tappet. The former Shark Fights welterweight champion is now 2-1 since joining the UFC last year.

And Benoist and Riddle may have had little competition for their Fight of the Night win, a back-and-forth battle with plenty of blood that Benoist won by a 29-28 unanimous decision. Benoist was making his UFC debut and stays unbeaten in his pro career at 6-0.

 

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UFC Live Blog: Jake Shields vs. Jake Ellenberger Updates

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NEW ORLEANS – This is the UFC Fight Night 25 live blog for Jake Shields vs. Jake Ellenberger, the main event of tonight’s UFC on Spike telecast from the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans.

Shields (26-5-1, 1-1 UFC) is coming off his first loss in more than six years, a unanimous decision setback against welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre at UFC 129 in April. Though Shields lost the fight, he snapped St-Pierre’s lengthy streak of 33 straight winning rounds. He also fights for the first time since the death last month of his father and manager, Jack Shields.

Ellenberger (24-5, 4-1 UFC) seeks his fifth straight win in the welterweight division. He hasn’t lost since his UFC debut, a split decision setback nearly two years ago to the day against Carlos Condit, St-Pierre’s next title challenger.

The live blog is below.

Round 1: Big ovation for Shields as Bruce Buffer announces him. The two Jakes look for position early, and Ellenberger lands the first takedown – though Shields pops right back up. Kick from Shields is countered by Ellenberger with with a left-right, and he then drops Shields in a hurry with a pair of big knees. He pounces and starts raining down strikes until it’s stopped. It’s a tremendously fast finish for Ellenberger and a fairly sizable upset – and the second straight loss for Shields more than six years without one.

Result: Jake Ellenberger def. Jake Shields, TKO (strikes), 0:53 Round 1

 

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NEW ORLEANS – This is the UFC Fight Night 25 live blog for Jake Shields vs. Jake Ellenberger, the main event of tonight’s UFC on Spike telecast from the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans.

Shields (26-5-1, 1-1 UFC) is coming off his first loss in more than six years, a unanimous decision setback against welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre at UFC 129 in April. Though Shields lost the fight, he snapped St-Pierre’s lengthy streak of 33 straight winning rounds. He also fights for the first time since the death last month of his father and manager, Jack Shields.

Ellenberger (24-5, 4-1 UFC) seeks his fifth straight win in the welterweight division. He hasn’t lost since his UFC debut, a split decision setback nearly two years ago to the day against Carlos Condit, St-Pierre’s next title challenger.

The live blog is below.

Round 1: Big ovation for Shields as Bruce Buffer announces him. The two Jakes look for position early, and Ellenberger lands the first takedown – though Shields pops right back up. Kick from Shields is countered by Ellenberger with with a left-right, and he then drops Shields in a hurry with a pair of big knees. He pounces and starts raining down strikes until it’s stopped. It’s a tremendously fast finish for Ellenberger and a fairly sizable upset – and the second straight loss for Shields more than six years without one.

Result: Jake Ellenberger def. Jake Shields, TKO (strikes), 0:53 Round 1

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UFC Live Blog: Jake Shields vs. Jake Ellenberger Updates

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NEW ORLEANS – This is the UFC Fight Night 25 live blog for Jake Shields vs. Jake Ellenberger, the main event of tonight’s UFC on Spike telecast from the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans.

Shields (26-5-1, 1-1 UFC) is coming off his first loss in more than six years, a unanimous decision setback against welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre at UFC 129 in April. Though Shields lost the fight, he snapped St-Pierre’s lengthy streak of 33 straight winning rounds. He also fights for the first time since the death last month of his father and manager, Jack Shields.

Ellenberger (24-5, 4-1 UFC) seeks his fifth straight win in the welterweight division. He hasn’t lost since his UFC debut, a split decision setback nearly two years ago to the day against Carlos Condit, St-Pierre’s next title challenger.

The live blog is below.

Round 1: Big ovation for Shields as Bruce Buffer announces him. The two Jakes look for position early, and Ellenberger lands the first takedown – though Shields pops right back up. Kick from Shields is countered by Ellenberger with with a left-right, and he then drops Shields in a hurry with a pair of big knees. He pounces and starts raining down strikes until it’s stopped. It’s a tremendously fast finish for Ellenberger and a fairly sizable upset – and the second straight loss for Shields more than six years without one.

Result: Jake Ellenberger def. Jake Shields, TKO (strikes), 0:53 Round 1

 

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Filed under:

NEW ORLEANS – This is the UFC Fight Night 25 live blog for Jake Shields vs. Jake Ellenberger, the main event of tonight’s UFC on Spike telecast from the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans.

Shields (26-5-1, 1-1 UFC) is coming off his first loss in more than six years, a unanimous decision setback against welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre at UFC 129 in April. Though Shields lost the fight, he snapped St-Pierre’s lengthy streak of 33 straight winning rounds. He also fights for the first time since the death last month of his father and manager, Jack Shields.

Ellenberger (24-5, 4-1 UFC) seeks his fifth straight win in the welterweight division. He hasn’t lost since his UFC debut, a split decision setback nearly two years ago to the day against Carlos Condit, St-Pierre’s next title challenger.

The live blog is below.

Round 1: Big ovation for Shields as Bruce Buffer announces him. The two Jakes look for position early, and Ellenberger lands the first takedown – though Shields pops right back up. Kick from Shields is countered by Ellenberger with with a left-right, and he then drops Shields in a hurry with a pair of big knees. He pounces and starts raining down strikes until it’s stopped. It’s a tremendously fast finish for Ellenberger and a fairly sizable upset – and the second straight loss for Shields more than six years without one.

Result: Jake Ellenberger def. Jake Shields, TKO (strikes), 0:53 Round 1

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