A Reinvigorated Jake Ellenberger Aims to Impress at UFC on FX 5
UFC on FX 5 welterweight Jake “The Juggernaut” Ellenberger has a chip on his shoulder.
Back in June, The Juggernaut suffered the harshest loss of his career after eating a devastating knee and ground and pound from Martin Kampmann.
The 28-year-old didn’t stay at home and sulk for long. He knew he had to change up his training to get back into being considered a contender once more. In order to get back to prominence in the division, however, Ellenberger must erase his first-ever loss in MMA, to Jay Hieron, and do so in exciting fashion at the Target Center on Friday night.
“The first time we fought, I didn’t even take training seriously,” Ellenberger told MMAWeekly Radio.
“I didn’t even take my career seriously. He took me down and won a decision, but this fight I think it’s going to be an exciting fight. I’m looking forward to it for sure.
“It’s very unsettling the way the last fight went, obviously. I made a lot of changes from the last fight to this fight. There’s a lot of things I could’ve done personally and I think I have addressed those for this fight. It’s more than revenge. I want to make a statement. It’s what I want to do to get back into being a contender.”
Revenge remains a forethought in Ellenberger’s mind as he readies for the co-main event in Minneapolis. It’s all about performing in devastating fashion and leaving the UFC fans in awe.
Even though he’s favored to win, Ellenberger is a little bit bothered by the fans and media completely writing Hieron off. He knows that Hieron is a cardio machine and is a world-class fighter even after he takes it to him on Friday night.
“If anybody knows the sport of MMA, they know that Jay Hieron is not a bum. He’s not a guy that they brought in from the street. He’s had a lot of fights. He’s had a lot of high-level fights. There’s absolutely no easy fights in the UFC. For me, I’m focusing on what I can get better at and being confident in what I know.
“I’ve watched his last few fights, he’s definitely a different fighter. He’s grown. I don’t think he’s a completely different fighter, no. He’s definitely made some improvements. This whole training cycle has been focused on me winning in every possible transition and in every possible scenario. Jay’s going to be in shape and he’s going to be ready.”
The only thing that weighs on Ellenberger’s mind is being a top contender at welterweight. And after UFC on FX 5 is over, The Juggernaut believes he’ll have reminded us all how he’s a threat in the division.
Stay tuned to MMAWeekly.com for all your UFC on FX 5 fight coverage.
