UFC
UFC on Fuel's Jake Ellenberger: "I can beat anybody in the world"
Feb 14, 2012 - 2:05:11 PM UFC on Fuel's Jake Ellenberger: "I can beat anybody in the world"

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

UFC on Fuel TV headliner Jake Ellenberger entered the UFC in 2009, taking on the last WEC Welterweight Champion Carlos Condit in his first appearance in the Octagon. He made his presence in the division known immediately, dropping Condit multiple times in the first round and nearly finishing the fight; however, Condit survived, and edged out the next two rounds to take a split decision victory.

Since that loss, Ellenberger has brought himself to he verge of title contention with five straight wins in the Octagon. Impressively, four of those five wins have come by stoppage, with his most recent victory serving as the biggest of his career when he knocked out Jake Shields in the first round last September.

As he prepares to take on Diego Sanchez on Wednesday night in Omaha, Neb., Ellenberger is feeling supremely confident in himself, and his ability to take on any and all comers in the UFC's welterweight division.

"I feel like when I'm mentally 100-percent focused and control everything that I do, as far as the intangibles outside of the cage, I can beat anybody in the world," Ellenberger said in an interview with MMAWeekly.com. "The opponent doesn't really matter to me."

"I have no control whether [a title shot will] happen or not. I feel like I can beat any welterweight in the world. I'm not looking past [Diego] at all. I haven't thought about anything but him. I'm completely focused on Diego. The goal in the future's definitely to be the champ, but I've definitely got a challenge. No looking past him at all."

Ellenberger plans on defeating Sanchez the same way he has most of his opponents - with his strikes. But Sanchez is an immensely durable fighter who has only ever been stopped once in his career, and that was in a title fight against B.J. Penn. While Ellenberger will be going for the stoppage, he understands the type of fight he's in for in front of his hometown crowd.

"He tries to mess with people's heads and play games, but he does bring a tremendous pace, and at the end of the day you have to be able to match that or do something to counteract that," he said of Sanchez. "He comes to fight and he's definitely a warrior and I've always respected that about him.

"I'm prepared to finish this fight and I know I'm going to leave with my hand raised by any means necessary. Whatever it takes. If we get a finish, that's great, but I'm expecting an absolute terror of a night."

Penick's Analysis: Ellenberger has emerged as a serious threat to anyone at 170 lbs., but even though he's got a great history of stopping opponents, it's a tough task to accomplish against a fighter like Sanchez. Ellenberger will need to keep the pressure on Sanchez throughout the fight, because if he doesn't, Sanchez has shown time and again that he can keep a relentless pace and he'll make it a tougher night for Ellenberger than most maybe expect. This is a fantastic welterweight fight, and Ellenberger's going to need to be on his game to put himself into the title picture this year or next.