In the first welterweight fight on the main card of UFC 158, Jake Ellenberger welcomed Nate Marquardt back to the UFC.
While Marquardt looked good at the start, he felt just how hard Ellenberger can hit as Ellenberger ended the fight with another first-round KO.
Ellenberger has now won his second straight fight and could be one away from a title shot.
What we’ll remember about this fight
We will remember just how powerful Ellenberger can be. Not that we forgot from his previous fights. But Ellenberger proved once again that he is one of the most dangerous fighters in the welterweight division.
What we learned about Ellenberger
Ellenberger is back on track after getting his title hopes derailed by Martin Kampmann. With the current state of the welterweight division, if Georges St-Pierre defeats Nick Diaz, Ellenberger will be one of the few welterweight contenders who have yet to face St-Pierre.
What we learned about Marquardt
Marquardt is not a bad fighter. He is a former Strikeforce champion and a former middleweight contender. Yet when it comes to big statement-making fights in the UFC, he just seems to come up short. Marquardt has been through a lot in his career, and if he is serious about making another title push, he will have to reassess his whole game.
What’s next for Ellenberger
Ellenberger may be a fight or two away from a title shot. Depending on how the rest of the night’s fights go, he could be facing Carlos Condit once again or the red-hot Demian Maia.
What’s next for Marquardt
Marquardt has now lost his second straight fight and could be out of the UFC once again with a third straight loss. Marquardt is still a big name just like Josh Koscheck, who has also lost two straight. They could meet in a loser-leaves-town match.
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