Dana White is back with another instalment of his acclaimed retrospective video series and we’re starting to notice a pattern here. The UFC president seems to be phoning it it these days, appearing sparingly in the videos and filling the remainder up with footage from previous events, which is false advertising considering this was supposed to be the UFC 135 Video Blog 1.
The Cliff’s Notes of what we learned this episode is after the jump.
(Video courtesy of YouTube/UFC)
Dana White is back with another instalment of his acclaimed retrospective video series and we’re starting to notice a pattern here. The UFC president seems to be phoning it it these days, appearing sparingly in the videos and filling the remainder up with footage from previous events, which is false advertising considering this was supposed to be the UFC 135 Video Blog 1.
Here’s what we learn in this episode:
• The Baldfather is still rich
• He hates bad refereeing
• Jake Shields thinks he should have been able to continue in spite of the fact that he was trying to single-leg the ref
• Besides being a hippy vegan, Jake is afraid of radiation from Cat Scans
• “Rampage” is an alpha male and a fan of ejaculation jokes
• Jon Jones is not a fan of “Rampage” or his shenanigans
Filed under: UFCWith his win over Jake Shields on Saturday night, Jake Ellenberger vaulted himself into any conversation about future UFC welterweight title contenders. The 53-second destruction carried with it a pointed message about Ellenberger’s sty…
With his win over Jake Shields on Saturday night, Jake Ellenberger vaulted himself into any conversation about future UFC welterweight title contenders. The 53-second destruction carried with it a pointed message about Ellenberger’s style. He is undoubtedly an excellent wrestler, but his powerful striking makes him a serious double-threat. Those attributes will make him a matchup nightmare in the future as he attempts to continue his ascent.
Realistically, there’s still at least a win or two ahead of him until he can demand a shot at gold. That’s because of two things: 1) the win over Shields was his first over a top 10 opponent, and 2) there are still others between him and the top.
The question then is who might be next. On Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour, Ellenberger said that he would like to fight again before the end of the year. One problem with that is nearly all of the division’s key fighters are otherwise occupied.
We’re not sure what that leaves Ellenberger, but it means either he’ll have to take a non-marquee matchup, or wait a while.
Jake Ellenberger
Fitch makes the most sense for Ellenberger, but with that unlikely, there are two possibilities. The first is that the UFC tells Ellenberger to stay in fighting shape and prepare to replace someone on short notice if an injury crops up. Given all the high-profile divisional fights coming up, that is a real possibility. But with the amount of cards they have to fill in future months, that might not be a luxury they can afford. So Ellenberger might have to settle for someone with top 10 talent, if not ranking.
Prediction: I’m going to hedge my bets here. If Koscheck beats Hughes on Saturday, Ellenberger vs. Koscheck might be the way to go. My backup option is that he faces the winner of October 1’s Anthony Johnson vs. Charlie Brenneman bout.
Jake Shields
The first thing Shields deserves is some time to be with his family after the passing of his father, Jack, just two weeks before his fight. When he’s ready to return, the welterweight division will probably still be the wild jungle it is now. But after losing two in a row, Shields will be in serious need of a win. Regardless of who he matches up with, it’s not going to be an easy fight.
Prediction: Shields either faces BJ Penn if Penn loses to Diaz, or Carlos Condit, if he loses to Georges St-Pierre.
Erik Koch
The Duke Roufus product has wowed many since his first days on the international scene when he entered the WEC. His win over Jonathan Brookins showed that his offensive arsenal continues to grow and his all-around game continues to round out, something you want to see from a 22-year-old. A particularly positive sign was his ability to stuff the takedown, denying all but one of Brookins’ 20 attempts. Given his striking skills, that sustained development can only help him.
Prediction: Koch fights the winner of November’s Dustin Poirier vs. Pablo Garza fight in early 2012.
Alan Belcher
It’s hard to imagine the emotions that ran through Belcher after winning coming off a 16-month layoff due to a serious eye injury. Frankly speaking, it was a bout Belcher was expected to win, but you never quite know if an athlete will return gun-shy until he engages. There were no such problems for Belcher, who steamrolled Jason MacDonald in less than four minutes.
Prediction: Belcher signs to face Rousimar Palhares.
Court McGee
McGee’s win over Dongi Yang on Saturday was a solid step forward in his career, as Yang is a durable if unspectacular opponent. McGee mostly out-struck Yang during the three-rounder but truly shined with his excellent conditioning, taking over the bout in the final minutes to seal the win. That victory moved him to 3-0 in the UFC, meaning it’s time to advance him up a level in competition.
Prediction: Ed Herman has two stoppage wins in 2011 and no currently scheduled bout. That sounds about right for McGee.
Evan Dunham
Dunham needed a win in the worst way, and got one in workmanlike fashion over Shamar Bailey. Once considered a rising contender, Dunham still has some work to do to win back the doubters who were once in his corner. To do that, he’s going to have to beat a name fighter with a solid reputation. Fortunately for him, there’s no shortage of those in his division.
Prediction: A date with Cole Miller is in his future.
Just a few hours ago, MMA Weekly broke the news that current Strikeforce light heavyweight champion is making his return to the octagon at UFC 139, taking on Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.
A former UFC light heavyweight champion, Rua, like Henderson, is …
Just a few hours ago, MMA Weekly broke the news that current Strikeforce light heavyweight champion is making his return to the octagon at UFC 139, taking on Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.
A former UFC light heavyweight champion, Rua, like Henderson, is one of the biggest Pride stars of all time.
At 41-years old, remains one of the top 205-pounders in the game as he has won six of his past seven, including four stoppages.
Meanwhile, Shogun looked impressive against Forrest Griffin in August, his first fight since losing the light heavyweight belt to Jon “Bones” Jones.
Despite some inconsistencies in the past few years, Rua has avenged three of his five career losses, and owns quality wins over the likes of Alistair Overeem (twice), Mark Coleman, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, and Lyoto Machida.
Still in his prime at 29-years old, there is no doubt that Rua is one of the most dangerous strikers in the game right now.
Nevertheless, here is five reason why Dan Henderson will beat Mauricio Rua on November 19.
Fresh off a massive TKO win over Jake Shields at the UFC’s 25th annual Fight Night event, Jake Ellenberger had a lot of interesting things to say on Ariel Helwani’s the MMA Hour. MMA Fighting transcribed some of the juiciest details.Ellenberger, o…
Fresh off a massive TKO win over Jake Shields at the UFC’s 25th annual Fight Night event, Jake Ellenberger had a lot of interesting things to say on Ariel Helwani’s the MMA Hour.
MMA Fighting transcribed some of the juiciest details.
Ellenberger, only the second fighter to stop Shields and the first man to do so in nearly an 11-year span, still hasn’t really had the win sink in yet.
“It’s something I’m still definitely trying to wrap my head around,” Ellenberger said. “It happened quick, and Jake’s definitely one of the best guys I’ve ever fought so it feels great. It’s definitely a big win for me.”
Despite the surprise surround his victory, Ellenberger stated that he knew he could do it all along.
“I know he was looking to take me down and I really wasn’t that worried about it,” Ellenberger stated. “I saw openings and I knew I definitely had the potential to knock him out. But happening the way it did is still kind of surreal.”
Shields came in as a consensus top five welterweight despite a UFC 129 loss to Georges St-Pierre, so Ellenberger has immediately catapulted his name into the title conversation with his most recent victory.
“The Juggernaut” is 26-5 in his professional MMA career, winning five straight in the UFC after debuting with a tightly contested split decision loss to Carlos Condit back in September of 2009.
Ellenberger made it clear that he would like another fight before 2011 comes to a close and that he already has thought about a fight with reigning welterweight king, Georges St-Pierre.
The heavy handed wrestler said he feels good about the way his style matches up with GSP in the cage, and while he is one of the sport’s best, he is not invincible.
“GSP is phenomenal, if not the best fighter in world,” Ellenberger admitted. “He’s someone you have to pressure. You definitely have to pressure him. You can’t stay back on him and let him control the distance and the range. He’s definitely beatable.”
While Ellenberger did not go into detail, he claimed that he has some some weaknesses in GSP’s game, weaknesses he can exploit if the two ever meet in the Octagon.
“Him and Jake Shields had a great fight. He’s proven. I don’t know how many times he defended his title, but anyone can be beat. I’m confident I can beat him. Like I said, anyone can be beat, and to beat a guy like GSP, you’d have to keep pressure and look for some holes.”
“He may not have very many, but they’re there,” Ellenberger said confidently.
St-Pierre has defended his belt six times in a row and has not lost since the he was upset by Matt Serra, all the way back in April of 2007.
Interestingly, Ellenberger said that Condit has a great chance against GSP due to his “fearlessness and power,” and also later proclaimed that St-Pierre likes to “play it safe a little bit.”
St-Pierre’s next title defense comes against Carlos Condit at UFC 137. The event takes place at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada on October 29.
As expected, only a small handful of you were insane enough to suggest that Jake Ellenberger would smoke Jake Shields in 53 seconds. I still can’t believe it myself. (Neither could Shields, for that matter.) But in the end, only two CagePotato fight-pickers predicted the quick TKO stoppage in Shields vs. Ellenberger and Court McGee’s unanimous decision over Dongi Yang, scoring themselves Warrior movie passes and other goodies in the process. They were…
As expected, only a small handful of you were insane enough to suggest that Jake Ellenberger would smoke Jake Shields in 53 seconds. I still can’t believe it myself. (Neither could Shields, for that matter.) But in the end, only two CagePotato fight-pickers predicted the quick TKO stoppage in Shields vs. Ellenberger and Court McGee’s unanimous decision over Dongi Yang, scoring themselves Warrior movie passes and other goodies in the process. They were…
SumDumGuy:
– Jake E. def. Jake S. via TKO 3:14 round 1.
– Court M. def Dongi Y. via UD (30-27 x 3)
RwilsonR:
– Ellenberger def. Shields via TKO, 3:28 of rd 1
– Court McGee def. Yang via unanimous decision (30-27 all)
For the record, RWilsonR made his picks first, and then SumDumGuy snuck in later, ninja style. A perfectly legal move in the fight-picking game. So fellas, if you want to claim your Warrior-related swag, e-mail [email protected] with your real names and addresses, and we’ll hook you up ASAP.
Once again, please visit WarriorFilm.com to buy tickets to the flick in your area. Seriously, you don’t want to wait until this bad boy hits Quikster.
Filed under: UFC, NewsLess than 48 hours after the signature win of his career thus far, Jake Ellenberger hasn’t quite fully digested his knockout of Jake Shields at Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 25. It’s not that Ellenberger is surprised he won. After al…
Less than 48 hours after the signature win of his career thus far, Jake Ellenberger hasn’t quite fully digested his knockout of Jake Shields at Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 25. It’s not that Ellenberger is surprised he won. After all, it’s a fight he asked for, and he basically predicted the result.
But the manner in which he won — becoming the first man to finish Shields in 11 years, and doing it in just 53 seconds — seems a little surreal, even to him.
“It’s something I’m still definitely trying to wrap my head around,” Ellenberger said on Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour. “It happened quick, and Jake’s definitely one of the best guys I’ve ever fought so it feels great. It’s definitely a big win for me.”
Ellenberger says that from studying Shields’ past fights, he always felt that his own style would match up well. Couple that with what he perceived to be a speed advantage along with his wrestling skills, and it was a recipe for the upset.
“I know he was looking to take me down and I really wasn’t that worried about it,” he said. “I saw openings and I knew I definitely had the potential to knock him out. But happening the way it did is still kind of surreal.”
The win rocketed him into the conversation of welterweight title contenders. Ellenberger is now 26-5 overall and has won five straight in the UFC, with four of those coming via stoppage.
He said that he hopes to face a highly ranked opponent and would like to fight again before the end of 2011. Ellenberger said that though he’s aware he probably opened a few eyes over the weekend, that takes a backseat to his goal of fighting for the UFC title.
“I’m not really looking for attention,” he said. “I’m not in the sport for attention. My goal is a world title and that’s what it’s been since day 1. The more attention the better, but I’m blessed to be where I’m at and do what I love and be part of the UFC. It’s been great.”
Though he called out Shields dating back to last year, Ellenberger says he’s not asking for anyone specific this time around. His goal is the title, and he’ll continue to work towards that. As he waits for his next matchup, Ellenberger will keep an eye on the welterweight title picture, where he says Carlos Condit has a “great chance” of upsetting Georges St-Pierre in October because of his fearlessness and power.
Those are some of the same traits that Ellenberger believes could eventually help him should he ever earn a chance to fight GSP. Like any top fighter, he’d like to beat the best, and likes his chances against the division’s current king. Citing St-Pierre’s tendency to “play it safe a little bit,” along with his own strengths, Ellenberger thinks he might just be the man to surprise the MMA world again.
“GSP is phenomenal, if not the best fighter in world,” he said. “He’s someone you have to pressure. You definitely have to pressure him. You can’t stay back on him and let him control the distance and the range. He’s definitely beatable. Him and Jake Shields had a great fight. He’s proven. I don’t know how many times he defended his title, but anyone can be beat. I’m confident I can beat him. Like I said, anyone can be beat, and to beat a guy like GSP, you’d have to keep pressure and look for some holes. He may not have very many, but they’re there.”
With his win over 
Fresh off a massive TKO win over Jake Shields at the UFC’s 25th annual Fight Night event, Jake Ellenberger had a lot of interesting things to say on Ariel Helwani’s the MMA Hour. 
Less than 48 hours after the signature win of his career thus far,