Roundtables
ROUNDTABLE: Predictions for Jake Ellenberger vs. Martin Kampmann main event at The Ultimate Fighter Finale on FX
Jun 1, 2012 - 4:15:38 PM

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Who wins the Jake Ellenberger vs. Martin Kampmann main event on Friday's Ultimate Fighter Finale, and how? Also, what should be next for the winner?

RICH HANSEN, MMATORCH COLUMNIST

Ellenberger could very well truck through Martin Kampmann like a knife through hot butter. As soon as Ellenberger gets an opportunity (which might not come right away) there is likely going to be a fast and violent finish. That said, Kampmann's solid enough where he might not give Ellenberger the window needed to finish the fight. So it's possible that Ellenberger wins by an accumulation of strikes as well. Either way, I don't see much of a threat here. As for what's next, I think Ellenberger deserves to be next in line for GSP or Condit, but the timing doesn't work, and I'm tired of voluntary sabbaticals when a title is dangled. Therefore, I'd book Ellenberger to fight Hendricks on the same card as GSP vs. Condit (likely November in Montreal), with the winner getting a title shot.


FRANK HYDEN, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

If Ellenberger wins, he should be one more win away from a title shot. It would need to be a high-profile win against a quality opponent, but I think he has a good case. If Kampmann wins, I'd say probably two wins away. I do think that Kampmann pulls off the win here. I like his game. I think they go to the scorecards and Kampmann wins a workmanlike decision.


ERIC HOBAUGH, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

I think Kampmann will be too much for Ellenburger. Kampmann has fought a lot of tough fighters and his overall game will help him earn a decision victory over Ellenberger. I have no problem with the winner of this fight being next in line for a title shot. The only problem with that is that Johny Hendricks has been mentioned as the fighter next in line for a title shot. The winner of this fight should get the loser of the GSP vs. Carlos Condit fight. If they cannot make that fight then a fight against Nick Diaz is the next best thing.


GRIFFIN MARSH, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

Jake Ellenberger, that's kind of a "duh" question for me. I see a second round TKO win by Jake. And I think he's ready for the elite of the division should he win. A fight against Diaz would be cool provided Diaz quits cheefin' and is reinstated.


BRAD WALKER, MMATORCH COLUMNIST

Ellenberger continues his roll and wipes the mat with Kampmann. After that he should face Johny Hendricks to see who gets to face the Condit-GSP winner - either way at the end of the day I really think we see Hendricks getting the title shot. Ellenberger is going to remain at the top end of the division, Kampmann tends to come and go.


ALEX WILLIAMS, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

Jake Ellenberger outpoints Martin Kampmann. The winner should earn a shot at the welterweight championship. Depending on the timetable for George St. Pierre's return, I wouldn't mind seeing the winner fight interim titlist Carlos Condit.


DAN MOORE, MMATORCH UK CONTRIBUTOR

Jake Ellenberger wins by TKO in the first or second round. Kampmann was seconds away from losing to Thiago Alves back in March, but pulled off a superb guillotine choke to get the win. Ellenberger won't make the same error as Alves did if he's two rounds up heading into the last. Kampmann is a very talented fighter, but he struggles against hard hitting one punch strikers, and only Hendricks is as hard hitting as Ellenberger in the Welterweight division right now. Who the winner gets next all depends on how long it takes to reschedule the GSP vs. Condit title fight. If that match up is delayed at all, then the winner on Friday should get a number 1 contender fight with Johny Hendricks.


JASON AMADI, MMATORCH COLUMNIST

Jake Ellenberger has tons of fire power and Martin Kampmann tends to get hit a lot. Normally, that would bode well for the power puncher, but Kampmann can take it. The biggest hole in Ellenberger's game is his cardio and facing a skilled, durable fighter like Kampmann in a five round fight sounds awful for him. I like Martin Kampmann by submission in the later rounds.

As far as the future goes, I think the winner of this fight winds up facing Johny Hendricks sometime in the near future. I know Hendricks thinks he's sitting pretty right now, but considering it'll be six months before GSP and Condit even fight and probably another four or five months after that before either of them are ready to fight again, Hendricks is easily looking at well over a year layoff.

His wins over Koscheck and Fitch might be completely worthless in year's time. I think he'll have to take another fight and I think the Kampmann-Ellenberger winner makes the most sense.