Tabbed No. 1 welterweight prospect, Jake Ellenberger sounds pretty confident about upcoming fight

If Jake Ellenberger isn't fighting for some sort of UFC welterweight title by the end of 2012 he can only blame himself.

The 26-year-old has put himself in prime position and can lock up a title fight if he posts something impressive next week against Diego Sanchez at UFC on FUEL in Omaha, NE.

At minus-350, Ellenberger is a huge favorite against the veteran fighter. He thinks he'll win but Ellenberger respects what Sanchez has done.

"I'm going to expect the best Diego Sanchez. He's going to come after me. He's going to move froward like he always does," Ellenberger told "The MMA Insiders" on ESPN1100/98.9 FM. "He trains with a great camp, a great strategist. I'm preparing for the best Diego yet."

Sanchez is back working with Greg Jackson and Jackson's MMA. That's a good thing. But the recent wars and beatings Sanchez (23-4, 12.4 UFC) has put his body through probably isn't.

"He's somewhat predictable. He moves forward. I think I can definitely win the transitions and win in the striking area," said Ellenberger.

Ellenberger's game is perfectly suited to challenge the two UFC welterweight champions. That's ESPN's MMA expert Adam Hill named him the top prospect at 170 pounds (parameters include - Have not held a UFC belt in the weight class; have not previously fought for a title in the weight class).

Carlos Condit and Ellenberger met in Sept. of 2009. The current UFC interim welterweight champ took a narrow split decision from Ellenberger. At the time, some may have thought it was a fluke. Not the case since Ellenberger has reeled off five straight victories including four KO finishes. I'd put Rory MacDonald and Johny Hendricks ahead of Ellenberger on the 170 list, but it's obvious the ranks of challengers for both UFC titles is growing each month.

Adam Hill Top 10 welterweight prospects:

1. Jake Ellenberger
2. Rory MacDonald
3. Johny Hendricks
4. Erick Silva
5. Tyron Woodley
6. Ben Askren
7. Martin Kampmann
8. Douglas Lima
9. Jordan Mein
10. Siyar Bahadurzada

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/tabbed-no-1-welterweight-prospect-jake-ellenberger-sounds-162454867.html

José Aldo  John Alessio  Houston Alexander Ricardo Almeida  Eddie Alvarez

UFC on Fuel TV 1 Trailer Video for ?Sanchez vs. Ellenberger? on Feb. 15

The UFC's first event on Fuel TV is now just one week away and the first trailer has arrived for next Wednesday's UFC on Fuel TV event in Omaha, Nebraska, which is headlined by welterweight contenders Jake Ellenberger and Diego Sanchez.

Source: http://mmafrenzy.com/27547/ufc-on-fuel-tv-1-video-trailer-for-sanchez-vs-ellenberger-on-feb-15/

Matt Andersen 

MMAFrenzy Podcast: Post-UFC 143, Pre-UFC on Fuel Edition

MMAFrenzy.com presents its latest podcast, where host Steve ?bsbiz? Barnes is joined by writers Chris Leslie and Bryan Robison providing analysis of this week?s MMA news and recaps of recent events. This week we break down the aftermath of UFC 143 and discuss UFC on Fuel 1.

Source: http://mmafrenzy.com/27574/mmafrenzy-podcast-post-ufc-143-pre-ufc-on-fuel-edition/

Alex Andrade  Jermaine Andrè  Yoji Anjo  Tank Abbott Hiroyuki Abe

Media fantasy camp: Where fans get to experience Nick being Nick

LAS VEGAS -- He's the most bizarre interview in the sport. Even the most savvy media member can't really crack the conundrum that is Nick Diaz.

So when some fans took their swings at Diaz following the UFC 143 press conference, they found out quickly even the best questions will probably illicit an answer that leaves you chuckling or scratching your head.

The first fan got up and asked Diaz what it would mean to him if there was a day when both he and his brother, Nate, were UFC champions. Diaz slowly grabbed the microphone and then had Dana White repeat the question. Great question, right? The answer was pretty straight forward.

"Yeah, that's what we're working towards. That's the idea," said Diaz (9:15 mark).

[ Related: Nick Diaz's straightforward fight approach defies crazy rep ]

Fan No. 2 took his shot and asked about Diaz's "Primetime" quotes, where he said to be a successful fighter, you have to love the sport so much that you have to hate it.

Diaz paused for nine seconds and let out a deep sigh before producing this doozy.

"That pretty much says it, what I said. That's what I meant. That's what that means," Diaz said.

White said Diaz is simply fascinating.

"He's knows the answer, 'but [expletive] you.' And that's a fan! '[Expletive] you, I'm not going to tell you the answer to that," laughed White. "You what I mean? 'I don't give a [expletive] what you think. I'm here to fight and I don't care if you people like me or you hate me.'"

That uncomfortable feeling isn't reserved just for the MMA media or inquisitive fans. Even White feels awkward around Diaz.

"It's almost like he hates us. What the [expletive] did we do? It's crazy. He's a fascinating human being."

White has no issues this time around with Diaz, saying the fighter has done everything the promotion has asked him to. Although he did mention it took Diaz missing three flights before he eventually arrived in Las Vegas from Northern California.

You can watch UFC 143 right here on Yahoo! Sports

Other popular content on Yahoo! Sports:
? UFC honors MMA legends, current champs with pay-per-view tribute video
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Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/media-fantasy-camp-even-fans-gets-experience-nick-070136844.html

Jermaine Andrè  Yoji Anjo  Tank Abbott Hiroyuki Abe Cyril Abidi 

Georges St-Pierre focused on Nick Diaz and nothing else

LAS VEGAS -- Think Georges St-Pierre isn't obsessed with Nick Diaz? Consider this: The UFC welterweight champion didn't know who is playing in Sunday's Super Bowl.

When the Montreal native was asked if he'd be rooting for the New England Patriots against the New York Giants during a media availability at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on Wednesday, St-Pierre replied "Are the Patriots playing? I don't even know who's in the [game]. I think New York is in it. New York is closer to Montreal, so I hope New York will win."

One would think St-Pierre would have plenty of time to keep up with the rest of the sports world, since he's been on the sidelines in Los Angeles, rehabbing from his December surgery to repair his torn left ACL.

But it's clear he's fixated on Diaz, the one fighter who has proven his ability to get under his skin.

"I can be a little, what do you call it? OCD. Obsessive-compulsive," said St-Pierre.

Diaz, who fights Condit for the interim welterweight title in the main event of UFC 143 on Saturday night, is the current object of GSP's self-described OCD. While St-Pierre has all the respect in the world for Condit, the champion is openly rooting for a rematch with St-Pierre, who he feels has openly disrespected him.

"I'm thinking about him right now, said St-Pierre. "I don't try to think too much about him. I hope he wins the fight Saturday night. I hope he does, I pray he does. Maybe he won't, but I hope he does."

"I want Nick Diaz to win for two reasons," said St-Pierre. "First, it is the fight everyone wants to see, he was the champion of Strikeforce and I was the champion of the UFC. What lights the fire in me is challenges. When I don't have a challenge, I feel dead. Also, a lot of the things he has said, he has questioned me and my integrity. I have never cheated in my life. It is one thing when you something to promote the fight but it is another when you attack someone personally. It is what it is and that's why I have my motivation to fight him.

St-Pierre said he won't be able to train all-out until July, which makes November the earliest target date for an Octagon return when you factor in a full training camp if all goes well. His last fight was his April 30, 2011, win over Jake Shields, so a November return would mean a year and a half away from the cage.

But St-Pierre's laser focus is aimed at Diaz, so the champ shook off questions of Octagon rust and dismissed the notion of taking a tune-up fight before facing Diaz.

"In mixed martial arts, there's no such thing as a tune-up fight. There's not guy out there who I can say, oh, I can take him. Who knows, that guy might kick my ass. There is no such thing as tune-up fights. In boxing, they can have optional title fights. I truly believe it's ridiculous. You're champion, you should fight the main guy."

So GSP has made it clear Diaz is the man he wants to fight, preferably as soon as November.

"I want him to wait for me. I want him to go on vacation and relax a bit and wait for me, because I'll be back soon."

Just don't ask him about the NBA Finals or the World Series between now and then.

Follow Dave Doyle on Twitter.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/georges-st-pierre-focused-nick-diaz-nothing-else-014029383.html

Thiago Alves  Andre Amade  Dean Amasinger  Jimmy Ambriz Matt Andersen