Jake Ellenberger

Jacob Steven "Jake" Ellenberger (born March 28, 1985) is an American mixed martial artist and former United States Marine. Ellenberger is currently signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship, fighting in the Welterweight division. A professional competitor since 2005, Ellenberger has also formerly competed for the Quad Cities Silverbacks of the IFL, Bodog Fight, and King of the Cage.^[4]

Background

Jake Ellenberger was born in Omaha, Nebraska. Jake's father was an iron worker, and he [Jake Ellenberger] has a twin brother named Joe who is also an MMA fighter. After starting his career with a 10-0 record, Joe was diagnosed with an extremely rare blood disease called Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria when he was 24 years old. Some estimates suggest that roughly half of the people diagnosed with PNH die within 10 years of their diagnosis. Joe still corners his brother's fights and is a huge inspiration for Jake. Both Jake and Joe were very athletic growing up; Jake was on the swimming and diving team in high school while Joe wrestled and played football. By the time Joe was in his senior year, he had won a Nebraska state title. He went on to wrestle at the University of Nebraska-Kearney and became a two-time Division II All-American, finishing third in the country twice and was a three-time academic All-American. Jake began training for MMA when he saw his friend fight for the welterweight title in the Victory Fighting Championships. He studied psychology at the University of Nebraska-Omaha for three years and was on the school's Division II wrestling team. Following the end of his own wrestling career and acting as assistant coach, Jake helped his alma mater to win back to back National titles. Jake Ellenberger is also a former Marine.

Mixed martial arts career

International Fight League

Ellenberger suffered the first loss of his career by unanimous decision to Jay Hieron in his IFL debut. In Ellenberger's second IFL appearance, he defeated Ben Uker by TKO in the second round at IFL: Championship Final. Ellenberger filled in on short notice for an injured Rory Markham and represented Pat Miletich's Quad City Silverbacks at the 2007 Team Championship Final. He suffered his only submission loss to Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Delson Heleno. In his last fight for the promotion, Ellenberger dominated his opponent, Pat Healy over three rounds to win a unanimous decision at IFL: Las Vegas.

BodogFight

At the event entitled Clash of the Nations, held in St. Petersburg, Russia, Ellenberger lost a unanimous decision to UFC veteran Derrick Noble. He then traveled to Costa Rica and defeated another UFC veteran, Zach Light, via TKO at Costa Rica Combat. In his last appearance with BodogFight, Ellenberger knocked out Jose Landi-Jons.

M-1 Challenge

Ellenberger represented the United States at M-1 Challenges in Japan and South Korea. In his first bout held in Japan, Ellenberger defeated Frenchman Farouk Lakebir by unanimous decision. In his next fight, held in Korea, Ellenberger defeated Doo Won Seo via TKO.

Bellator

Ellenberger won his fight against Marcelo Alfaya at Bellator 11 by KO, 42 seconds into the first round.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Ellenberger stepped in on short notice for an injured Chris Lytle and lost a split decision in his promotional debut at UFC Fight Night 19 against Carlos Condit.^[5]

Ellenberger rebounded by defeating Mike Pyle via second round TKO on January 2, 2010 at UFC 108.^[6]

Ellenberger was set to face Ben Saunders at UFC 111 in Newark, New Jersey as a replacement for the injured Martin Kampmann; however, once Jon Fitch's original opponent, Thiago Alves, was forced out due to a brain irregularity, Saunders requested and was granted a fight against Fitch instead. Due to the last minute switch, Ellenberger was still paid win and show money.^[7]

Ellenberger defeated John Howard via third round TKO at UFC Live: Jones vs. Matyushenko.^[8] Ellenberger caused Howard's left eye to close after repeatedly landing short elbows and punches from the closed guard.

Ellenberger was expected to face Jon Fitch on February 5, 2011 at UFC 126,^[9] but Fitch was pulled from the bout in favor with a matchup with BJ Penn at UFC 127.^[10] Ellenberger instead faced the then-undefeated Carlos Eduardo Rocha at UFC 126^[11] and won the fight via split decision.

Ellenberger faced Sean Pierson on April 30, 2011 at UFC 129, replacing an injured Brian Foster, and won the fight via first round KO on 17 days notice.^[12]

Ellenberger faced Jake Shields on September 17, 2011 at UFC Fight Night 25.^[13] He won the fight via TKO only 53 seconds into the first round. The finish earned him the Knockout of the Night honors.

A bout between Ellenberger and Diego Sanchez was briefly linked to UFC 141.^[14] However, a lingering hand injury ended up keeping Sanchez out of action until February 2012.^[15]

The Ellenberger/Sanchez bout took place on February 15, 2012 at UFC on Fuel TV 1^[16] Ellenberger defeated Sanchez via unanimous decision, in a bout that earned both fighters Fight of the Night honors.

Ellenberger lost to Martin Kampmann via second round KO (knees) on June 1, 2012 at The Ultimate Fighter 15 Finale.^[17]

Ellenberger was expected to face Josh Koscheck on September 1, 2012 at UFC 151.^[18] However, Koscheck pulled out of the bout citing a back injury^[19] and was replaced by returning UFC veteran Jay Hieron.^[20] Hieron gave Ellenberger his first loss six years earlier. After the UFC 151 event was cancelled, Ellenberger/Hieron took place on October 5, 2012 at UFC on FX 5.^[21] Ellenberger won the fight via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).

Ellenberger was expected to face Johny Hendricks on March 16, 2013 UFC 158.^[22] However, Hendricks was pulled from the Ellenberger bout in favor of a matchup with Carlos Condit at the event after Condit's original opponent Rory MacDonald, pulled out of the bout with an injury.^[23] Ellenberger instead faced returning veteran Nate Marquardt.^[24] Ellenberger defeated Marquardt via spectacular first round knockout. The win also garnered him his second Knockout of the Night bonus.^[25]

Ellenberger faced Rory MacDonald on July 27, 2013, at UFC on Fox 8.^[26] MacDonald was able to use his size and reach advantage to repeatedly land his jab, neutralizing the shorter Ellenberger, resulting in a unanimous decision victory. UFC president Dana White criticized the performance as "lackluster".^[27][28]

Ellenberger was expected to face Tarec Saffiedine on January 4, 2014 at UFC Fight Night 34.^[29] However in late November, Ellenberger pulled out of the bout citing a hamstring injury and was replaced by Hyun Gyu Lim.^[30]

On April 9, 2014, Ellenberger revealed that he had signed an eight-fight contract with UFC with disclosed title clauses should he be a champion in the future.^[31]

The bout with Saffiedine was rebooked for UFC 172.^[32] However, on March 28, 2014, Saffiedine pulled out of the fight with an undisclosed injury. Ellenberger instead faced Robbie Lawler at UFC 173 on May 24, 2014. ^[33] He lost the fight via TKO in the third round due to a combination of a knee and punches.

Ellenberger next faced Kelvin Gastelum on November 15, 2014 at UFC 180.^[34] He lost the fight via submission in the first round.^[35]

Ellenberger faced Josh Koscheck on February 28, 2015 at UFC 184.^[36] Ellenberger won the fight via submission in the second round, his first submission victory in nine years.^[37] It also earned Ellenberger a Performance of the Night bonus.^[38]

Ellenberger faced Stephen Thompson on July 12, 2015 at The Ultimate Fighter 21 Finale.^[39] He lost the fight via KO due to a spinning hook kick and punches in the first round.^[40]

Ellenberger faced Tarec Saffiedine on January 30, 2016 at UFC on Fox 18.^[41] He lost the fight by unanimous decision.^[42]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

• Ultimate Fighting Championship
  • Fight of the Night (One time)
  • Performance of the Night (One time)
  • Knockout of the Night (Two times)

• Sherdog
  • 2011 All-Violence Second Team^[43]

Joe Ellenberger

Joe Ellenberger is the twin brother of Jake Ellenberger.^[44] Joe Ellenberger managed to twice compete for the UFC but at the end of October 2009 he was diagnosed with a rare bone marrow disease called Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). Many patients with this disease die in the first decade of being diagnosed due to the hemolysis and thrombosis. Not only was he told that his fight career was over but that he won't see his 30th birthday. Joe visited a bone marrow failure specialist Dr. Monica Bessler in St. Louis, MO. She perscribed him a drug manufactured called, Soliris.^[45]

Mixed martial arts record

See also

• List of current UFC fighters
• List of male mixed martial artists

References

External links

• Professional MMA record for Jake Ellenberger from Sherdog