Former UFC title challenger Diego Sanchez is one of the toughest fighters to finish in the UFC, but welterweight standout Jake Ellenberger—who holds 17 knockout victories and 23 wins overall—plans on stopping him at UFC on Fuel TV in February.
“All I am thinking about is destroying Diego, breaking him mentally,” Ellenberger told MMA Prime. “I can beat him anywhere the fight goes, and all I am focusing on is that victory right there.”
Ellenberger, who is considered by many to be the hardest-hitting welterweight in the UFC, is coming off a TKO victory over former Strikeforce welterweight champion Jake Shields, who he stopped just 53 seconds into the first round. Shields had been coming off a unanimous decision loss to UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre prior to that fight.
“Some people think it’s a little bit arrogant, it’s a little bit cocky, but it’s confidence,” Ellenberger continued. “That’s the only way I can put it. I am better than him. I feel I am better than him everywhere, and we fight a similar way. I’m not going to sit there and try to wrestle him. I want to strike. If he wants to come forward, and strike like he normally does, I welcome it.”
Sanchez is coming off back-to-back victories over Martin Kampmann and Paulo Thiago. Of his four losses, all but one are by decision, which came after he suffered a deep gash on his forehead in a lightweight title fight versus B.J. Penn. His last two bouts both earned fight of the night bonuses.
“It’s a fantastic matchup,” Ellenberger said. “It’s going to be a high energy fight. I’m looking forward to it. I guarantee you this fight is not going to a decision.”
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