Feb 15, 2012 - A back-and-forth 15-minute main event on Wednesday night ended in Jake Ellenberger taking a decision over Diego Sanchez in the first UFC on FUEL card.
It was an excellent fight featuring two of the sport's top welterweights, and it was a good display of both Ellenberger's great skill and Sanchez's tremendous heart. Ellenberger was the better fighter in the Octagon, but Sanchez deserves credit for making it through 15 minutes.
In the end, the judges all agreed that Ellenberger had won the first two rounds and Sanchez had won the third, and the scorecards were unanimous, 29-28.
Ellenberger had the crowd on his side in his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska, and they carried him through a close first round in which both men had their share of effective strikes. Ellenberger knocked Sanchez down with a punch, and that knockdown may have been the difference in a close round.
In the second round Sanchez appeared to grow more frustrated as Ellenberger continued landing punches and then moving out of Sanchez's range. With a minute left in the round, Ellenberger ducked under a Sanchez punch and executed a takedown, and he landed some big elbows from the top, clearly winning the second round.
Sanchez wouldn't go down without a fight, and in the third round he did some damage to Ellenberger in the striking exchanges. Ellenberger took Sanchez down with just over a minute to go in the round and appeared to be in good position to ride out the victory, but Sanchez did a sensational job of transitioning into a dominant position and pounding away on Ellenberger. Sanchez had Ellenberger in big trouble as the third round drew to a close, but he wasn't able to finish the fight, and Ellenberger held on for the decision.
"Diego's known for that -- he's the toughest guy I've ever fought and he's a true warrior," Ellenberger said. "It's an honor to fight him."
It's an honor for UFC fans to watch Ellenberger. He's a future title contender, but he demurred when asked if he wanted to call out interim welterweight champion Carlos Condit.
"I'm not sure, that's up to the UFC," Ellenberger said.
Ellenberger is willing to wait for his title shot, but he won't have to wait too long. Ellenberger has the talent and the toughness to be a champion.
27 comments
Jake Ellenberger Outlasts Diego Sanchez in UFC on FUEL Main Event
27
Feb 15
3
Feb 15
1
Feb 15
1
Feb 15
3
Feb 15
Comments
I'm no fighter
but when was Diego gonna figure out that whenever he swung at Ellenberger’s head, Ellenberger ducked under for a TD? He literally did that every time. A well placed and timed knee might have done the job.
Big fan of Diego, but that whole ankle thing was unnecessary. If you’re gonna do that, at least wait for the presser. Don’t talk about it in the cage!
by Bigs- on Feb 15, 2012 11:06 PM EST reply actions
which fight did you watch?
So are you saying that Diego only swung at Ellenberger’s head 3 times in the fight? You’re a real keen armchair analyst. But agreed on the ankle announcement. Pretty cheesy thing to do. There was no sign of him favoring that ankle the whole fight.
I don’t get why these born again guys think that Jesus Christ would want to be associated with fighting. I can just imagine the conversation that will take place at the Pearly Gates:
Diego: “Uhhh…hey Jesus, why are these gates not opening? I praised your name after every fight and I voted for George Bush, John McCaim and Mitt Romney.”
Jesus: “Seriously?…No REALLY, seriously? I know what you did last summer. In fact I know what you did your entire life. If you voted for them, then you should go join them in Hell.”
by ArielHelwannabe on Feb 16, 2012 7:18 AM EST up reply actions
EPIC
I likey….
by GizMo,s BAcK on Feb 16, 2012 9:48 AM EST up reply actions
GREAT DEAL----#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#----GREAT DEAL------
Wanna make serious money working from home only a few hours daily and make a nice extra income doing what you already do (searching the internet), visit this site, makecash25. comONLY
by bobby123 on Feb 19, 2012 4:35 AM EST up reply actions
Great Fight. Diego takes it if it went 5.
That Ellenberger punch at the end of Rd. 1 would’ve blasted most, but Diego didn’t care haha. Diego may be a nut but his motor still impresses me every time.
by lwood24 on Feb 15, 2012 11:16 PM EST reply actions
Great fight, but I thought all main event fights were 5 rds now
I guess that’s just for PPV?
Anyway, great night of fights! UFC on Fuel and UFC on FX have been exemplary thus far! I wish I could say the same about UFC on Fox, but that should change with the next one.
Hendo/Bisping:
"He hit him so hard that even gravity got scared. Bisping hung in mid-air for a moment while gravity screamed at inertia, "Did you see that shit!?" Then, after a high five, the two universal forces quit screwing around and yanked Bisping's limp body onto the floor." - Seanbaby
"You are banned from bloodyelbow because Roth was being too nice and your picture" -Tim Burke
by superfknmario__ on Feb 15, 2012 11:32 PM EST reply actions
I don't think that performance should lock up a title shot
the fight ended with Ellenberger GETTING HIS ASS KICKED by an unranked fighter
let him fight Hendricks for “next” after Conditvs GSP.
Y’all know that fight is gonna happen. It is much too marketable to let slip.
Being "The People's Champ" is like being a Special Olympics Gold Medalist
It just means that a bunch of retards think that you're the best
by Clark Griswald on Feb 15, 2012 11:42 PM EST reply actions
agreed
On a previous post, I noted that winner of this gets winner if hendricks/Koshchek. Anyway,i hope people don’t count Diego out, him and Clay will be journeymen like Chris Lytle.
by iboneu89 on Feb 16, 2012 9:39 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
I didn't feel that either guy deserved a title shot after this fight to be honest
and I’m referring to before the fight even happened. If Ellenberger finished Diego in the first, maybe I’d change my mind. Otherwise, no way either has done enough to deserve a title shot IMO.
Hendo/Bisping:
"He hit him so hard that even gravity got scared. Bisping hung in mid-air for a moment while gravity screamed at inertia, "Did you see that shit!?" Then, after a high five, the two universal forces quit screwing around and yanked Bisping's limp body onto the floor." - Seanbaby
"You are banned from bloodyelbow because Roth was being too nice and your picture" -Tim Burke
by superfknmario__ on Feb 15, 2012 11:48 PM EST reply actions
was supposed to be a reply to Clark Griswald
Hendo/Bisping:
"He hit him so hard that even gravity got scared. Bisping hung in mid-air for a moment while gravity screamed at inertia, "Did you see that shit!?" Then, after a high five, the two universal forces quit screwing around and yanked Bisping's limp body onto the floor." - Seanbaby
"You are banned from bloodyelbow because Roth was being too nice and your picture" -Tim Burke
by superfknmario__ on Feb 15, 2012 11:48 PM EST up reply actions
agreed
also w GSP situation I see no need to “Rush” an interim title shot
(sorry that was a really awful horribly lame pun)
but really, let these newbies fight more. I think both Ellenberger and Hendrick’s big top 5 wins were very flukey…. and Diego, well he’s Diego, if it wasn’t for “The lord and saviour Jesus Christ” … Diegowouldn’t even be able to WALK right now.
*don’t know why I made Jesus British, it’s late…
Being "The People's Champ" is like being a Special Olympics Gold Medalist
It just means that a bunch of retards think that you're the best
by Clark Griswald on Feb 15, 2012 11:54 PM EST up reply actions
Quick Witted, i like. lmao
I catch myself doing that too. Anyway, a matchup of Mike Pierce and Sanchez would make sense also Koshchek/Hendricks and Ellenberger/Shields 2(I thought it was an early stoppage) or give him Fitch
by iboneu89 on Feb 16, 2012 9:48 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
yup
perfect time for an 8 man tourney
winner gets GSP / Condit (GSP)
Being "The People's Champ" is like being a Special Olympics Gold Medalist
It just means that a bunch of retards think that you're the best
by Clark Griswald on Feb 16, 2012 10:16 AM EST up reply actions
dude, you guys arent giving enough credit to Diego Sanchez.. That last round was complete domination against a guy that knocked out Jake Shields. Had it gone 5 rounds, I think Sanchez would’ve come back. This guy has tremendous heart and will always put on an exciting fight.
by grizzly907 on Feb 16, 2012 12:02 PM EST up reply actions
how's that?
I said Diego was “Kicking Jake’s ASS” in the end of the fight.
Diego is unranked, beating an unranked fighter shouldn’t earn a title shot, no Diego disrespect ever occurred. and yeah, Diego would have had a decent shot if that fight went 5.
Being "The People's Champ" is like being a Special Olympics Gold Medalist
It just means that a bunch of retards think that you're the best
by Clark Griswald on Feb 17, 2012 11:37 PM EST up reply actions
Jake has a lot to work on
This left a sour taste n my mouth like the Rocha fight
by Bigs- on Feb 16, 2012 12:47 AM EST up reply actions
5 Rounds!!!!!
Man That Fight was Awesome!!! But it needed to be a 5 Rounder!! The fight was just starting! I agree Jake won but it could have been cool to see if Jake could have weathered that Storm. He looked pretty finished and exhausted.
by Javier DLC on Feb 16, 2012 1:06 AM EST reply actions
All fights should be 5 rounds, Who Cares though when is Diaz fighting again
by jjrizzo223 on Feb 16, 2012 1:13 AM EST reply actions
When he straightens up his life and get his priorities in order.
by Javier DLC on Feb 16, 2012 2:14 AM EST up reply actions
+1
If he goes crying to Dana for a fight, its sad he will get it
by iboneu89 on Feb 16, 2012 10:12 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
LOL!!
Hendo/Bisping:
"He hit him so hard that even gravity got scared. Bisping hung in mid-air for a moment while gravity screamed at inertia, "Did you see that shit!?" Then, after a high five, the two universal forces quit screwing around and yanked Bisping's limp body onto the floor." - Seanbaby
"You are banned from bloodyelbow because Roth was being too nice and your picture" -Tim Burke
by superfknmario__ on Feb 16, 2012 10:12 AM EST up reply actions
Should have been 5 rounds
No way the guy deserves to go against Condit/GSP if he can’t keep the pace up for 3 rounds let alone 5.
by EthanK100 on Feb 16, 2012 4:08 AM EST reply actions
I would really like to see Diego go back to lightweight. He’s still a good fighter at welterweight though haha.
by albertherediuh on Feb 16, 2012 5:20 AM EST via mobile reply actions
+10
Stay upto 4o,clock in the morning for this one,I don’t know about Diaz getting robbed,But i certainly feel as though i have been.Maybe this is why Dana is getting pushed backwards with all the sh-t he spews.Where was the 4th and 5th rounds arrrrrggggghhhhh…..
by GizMo,s BAcK on Feb 16, 2012 6:22 AM EST up reply actions
Still
A great fight and a rematch should be on the cards.My original comment was in reply to Ethank100..
by GizMo,s BAcK on Feb 16, 2012 6:29 AM EST up reply actions
Noooooooooo ....please no more rematches!!!!
No way that last round was a 10-8. Rd 1 in Edgar-Maynard was a 10-8. How can you compare it?
by ArielHelwannabe on Feb 16, 2012 10:38 AM EST up reply actions
Why didn't Diego go for the submission?
I knew Diego would put on this kind of fight. That’s what he normally does. What I don’t understand is why didn’t Diego try for the real naked choke in the last minute of the 3rd round. He had Ellenberger’s back. The choke was there. Maybe he figured the ground and pound would get the referee to stop the fight. I can’t really fault him if that’s why he went that way, but the rear naked choke was there at least two or three times.
by rcjinvegas on Feb 16, 2012 12:53 PM EST reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed