Filed under: UFCAt UFC 129, the Knockout of the Night bonus will be worth an all-time high $129,000. Jake Ellenberger may have just earned the biggest payday of his MMA career.
Ellenberger knocked out Sean Pierson with a brutal counter left hook in th…
At UFC 129, the Knockout of the Night bonus will be worth an all-time high $129,000. Jake Ellenberger may have just earned the biggest payday of his MMA career.
Ellenberger knocked out Sean Pierson with a brutal counter left hook in the first round of their fight in front of a record crowd estimated at 55,000 at the Rogers Centre in Toronto.
After that counter left hook knocked Pierson wobbly, Ellenberger landed another right hand on Pierson’s way to the floor, and one more on the ground. Those two shots, however, were unnecessary: It was the left hook that finished Pierson.
The UFC confirmed the change late Wednesday night.
The opponent switch was necessary after Pierson’s original opponent, Brian Foster, was forced to withdraw after a pre-fight MRI discovered a brain hemorrhage.
Filed under: UFC, NewsWelterweight matchups Nate Diaz vs. Rory MacDonald and Sean Pierson vs. Jake Ellenberger have been selected as the two undercard bouts to air live on Spike TV off the UFC 129 card on Saturday, April 30 in Toronto.
UFC 129: Prelims will air at 8 p.m. ET as a lead-in to the pay-per-view headlined by Georges St-Pierre vs. Jake Shields. The new pay-per-view airtime of 9 p.m. ET begins with this event.
Filed under: UFCIt may not have been the Super Bowl of MMA events, but at least UFC 126 has one thing over football’s climactic game: it didn’t force us to watch Fergie mime human emotions for an extended period of time.
It may not have been the Super Bowl of MMA events, but at least UFC 126 has one thing over football’s climactic game: it didn’t force us to watch Fergie mime human emotions for an extended period of time.
After a main event that resembled the finish to ‘Karate Kid’ just a little more than we were prepared for, it’s time to break down all the action and see who were the biggest winners, losers, and everything in between after Saturday night in Las Vegas.
Biggest Winner: Anderson Silva
Admit it, when he spent the first couple minutes floating around the cage and blocking invisible punches, you thought to yourself: ‘Dear God, not again.’ Then he front-kicked Vitor Belfort in the face and you leapt three feet in the air while proclaiming him the greatest fighter to ever live. Such is the rollercoaster of emotions that comes with any Silva fight. Beating Belfort might not be the crowning jewel in his already stellar career, but doing it in action movie fashion can only add to his mythical status. Even if he retires tomorrow he’ll be remembered as one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time. Although if he retires before fighting GSP – who, one hopes, won’t screw things up by losing to Jake Shields – it will be a minor tragedy.
Preliminary card Welterweight bout: Mike Pierce vs Kenny Robertson Mike Pierce is one of the most underknown and underappreciated welterweights. I’ve got Pierce winning this. Light Heavyweight bout: Kyle Kingsbury vs Ricardo Romero For whatever reason, Romero seems to pull out the victories at the end of the day. I lean towards Romero here in […]
Preliminary card
Welterweight bout: Mike Pierce vs Kenny Robertson
Mike Pierce is one of the most underknown and underappreciated welterweights. I’ve got Pierce winning this.
Light Heavyweight bout: Kyle Kingsbury vs Ricardo Romero
For whatever reason, Romero seems to pull out the victories at the end of the day. I lean towards Romero here in the underdog position.
Lightweight bout: Paul Taylor vs Gabe Ruediger
Taylor should eat Ruediger up as Ruediger is rather poor on his feet, but good on the ground and Taylor is excellent on the feet and mediocre on the ground. Taylor should win this fight via decision.
Preliminary card (Facebook Stream)
Bantamweight bout: Norifumi Yamamoto vs Demetrious Johnson
Kid Yamamoto against a guy I don’t know. I go with Yamamoto everytime.
Preliminary card (Spike TV)
Featherweight bout: Chad Mendes vs Michihiro Omigawa
I know Mendes is likely to win, but you can’t write off Omigawa so easily either. Mendes is -357 to Omigawa at Intertops. With crazy skewed odds I’ll go with Omigawa.
Lightweight bout: Donald Cerrone vs Paul Kelly
This is going to be a great fight. Kelly is tough as nails, Cerrone is as well. I don’t think Cerrone has faced someone as strong as Kelly yet. I think Kelly wears em down and takes the decision.
Main card
Bantamweight bout: Miguel Torres vs Antonio Banuelos
Miguell Torres is likely to win, but I’m avoiding this due to the odds being out of bounds.
Welterweight bout: Jake Ellenberger vs Carlos Eduardo Rocha
One of the best fighters to bet on is Ellenberger. However, this fight is tricky. Rocha is a absolute jiu-jitsu ace and has a ton of leg related sub victories. I’m passing here as I think Rocha could pull off an insane upset. However, the oddsmakers look like they are thinking like me and Ellenberger is not such a large favorite in this one.
As news leaks that UFC Welterweight, Jake Ellenberger will be getting a crack at the #2 ranked Welterweight in the world, MMAFix decided to ask Ellenberger 10 burning questions. Jake Ellenberger took some time out from training in Hawaii to sit down at his computer and explain to us why he […]
ByJoyce Lynda Valdes
As news leaks that UFC Welterweight, Jake Ellenberger will be getting a crack at the #2 ranked Welterweight in the world, MMAFix decided to ask Ellenberger 10 burning questions. Jake Ellenberger took some time out from training in Hawaii to sit down at his computer and explain to us why he calls Jake Shields, “Miss Piggy” and why he thinks he’s been asked to fight Jon Fitch at UFC 126.
1. Okay, I’ve seen your Twitter talk to Jake Shields. Why did you dub him “Miss Piggy”? And are you not a fan of McDonald’s dollar menu?
JE: Miss Piggy is fitting for Shields for his softness when he fights. Also his feminine charm reminds me of Miss Piggy from the Muppet Show.
2. I’ve read that Jake Shields ducked a fight with you some time ago. Can you explain that?
JE: Easy, I signed a contract to fight him, his dad pulled him out. Weak move.
3. So is it safe to say you were unimpressed with Shield’s Decision win against Martin Kampmann? What did you think of Kampmann’s performance? He told us he put in a shitty performance and wasn’t happy with himself.
JE: Jake Shields always seems to have an excuse. News Flash, everyone cuts weight in the upper echelon of the UFC, I cut 20 pounds to make welterweight, and I walk around at 205. When you are a professional athlete, you have the right people are in place around you, and decisions can be made about situations like this. If it’s too hard to make 170, either compete at middleweight or cut the weight and don’t complain.
4. How much can you confirm that there will be a bout between you and Jon Fitch at UFC 126?
JE: That is the rumor…
5. Jon Fitch is the number 2 ranked Welterweight in the world but is often criticized for not putting on the most exciting performances. How do you feel about Fitch?
JE: Jon Fitch is a great fighter and no one but GSP has beaten him in a long time. He has solid wrestling, good hands, smothering top game, and a good guard. Like any other guy, he has holes in his game though in which I will try to exploit.
6. We know you put on exciting fights. What you did to John Howard’s face was very impressive at UFC on Versus 2. What do yousay to people who are a little surprised though at your rapid flight up the ranks to get an opportunity at Jon Fitch?
JE: Joe and Dana are the best in the business for a reason and they make matchups for exciting fights. I will always have an exciting fight!
7. Do you agree as some MMA analysts have said, that Fitch has far more to lose than you do if he takes a loss to you?
JE: Sure, I agree. Everyone in a fight has something to lose.
8.It may be fair to say the UFC Welterweight division is the most stacked division they have with all four of the top ranked MMA Welterweights in the world fighting in the promotion. Other top 10 fighters, for instance in the UFC Light Heavyweight division like Jon Jones and Matt Hamill have yet to receive a top 5 fighter, why do you think you are getting this outstanding opportunity?
JE: My job is to fight, that’s it. I am grateful for the opportunity to fight a top 5 guy, and any other professional fighter would take advantage of this opportunity as well.
9.If you can beat Jon Fitch and have the chance to pick your next opponent, Title shot not a factor, who would you choose to fight? GSP or Jake Shields? Shields has said that he would prefer Georges St. Pierre over Josh Koscheck because beating St. Pierre would be more prestigious. How do you feel?
JE: Shields, he will not beat me. EVER.
10. What do you want MMA fans to expect from you going into your next fight? …that you can finish Fitch?…that you will put on an exciting show?…that you can smack talk better than Chael Sonnen?
JE: I always have exciting fights, and look forward to becoming a world champion.
Jake Ellenberger
Welterweight matchups 
It may not have been the Super Bowl of MMA events, but at least 