Ellenberger: This is my world title fight
Jake Ellenberger: “Every fight is important but I haven’t looked an inch past this fight. This is it. This is my world title fight right here.”
At this weekend’s UFC 173, Jake Ellenberger fights former title challenger Robbie Lawler in a fight that will move one of them one step closer to a title fight. For Jake Ellenberger, this fight is of course just as important a world title fight, because without a win, he won’t be in line for a title shot again for a while:
The resulting matchup of Ellenberger and Lawler is one of power — both each have 18 career knockouts. Still, Ellenberger believes it’s not KO power but intelligence that will decide the outcome, which is why any little edge could make a difference. Those fine details that are a Tarverdyan trademark? One of them could provide the final piece of the puzzle.
The winner’s prize includes a possible date with champion Johny Hendricks, but in MMA, most successful athletes learn never to focus on dates too far ahead or dwell on what’s already been left behind. That’s why that winner’s prize is so easy to ignore for Ellenberger. It is a maybe, a possibility when there is something so tangible standing before him. His past brought around full circle into a measurement of how far he’s come and where he stands.
“In my mind this is my world title fight right here,” Ellenberger said. “I have to succeed at this. Every fight is important but I haven’t looked an inch past this fight. This is it. This is my world title fight right here.”