UFC on FX 5’s Jake Ellenberger: “I’ve Learned to be More Patient When I Hurt Someone”

STUDIO MMA, RIVERSIDE, CA – UFC welterweight Jake “The Juggernaut” Ellenberger steps in the Octagon this Friday at UFC on FX 5 against the first man to ever defeat him, Jay Hieron. Their first bout took place back in ’06, with Hieron taking a unanimous decision. With five career losses under his belt, Ellenberger will now get his first crack at avenging a loss.

I’m a completely different fighter from the one he beat all that time ago,” Ellenberger said. “He’s a different fighter, too, so the first fight has nothing to do with Friday. I’m going to be happy to avenge that defeat, for sure, but it isn’t like I’ve been thinking about it since the fight. I feel I can win this fight and get back to the top of the division and challenge for the title. That’s the reason I am here.

Ellenberger is recently coming off a disappointing TKO loss to Martin Kampmann at The Ultimate Fighter 15 Finale, snapping a six fight win streak.

I know I can compete with the best but I will never look past any opponent. That is where you lose consistency and have disappointing fights. I’ve learned to be more patient when I hurt someone, and I feel I’ve tightened up a lot of things since my last fight. I realize now I’ve got 15 minutes to finish fights and I think you’ll see this new maturity in my fight this Friday.