UFC 108: Jake Ellenberger vs Mike Pyle on tap for Jan. 2

by Michael McColgan on Oct 27, 2009 12:01 PM EDT

There's a welterweight brouhaha cooking between 170-pound veterans Jake Ellenberger (21-5) and Mike Pyle (19-6-1) for the upcoming UFC 108 card from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Jan. 2, MMAmania.com can confirm.

Ellenberger is a dangerous striker who got people talking after shutting off the switch on Marcelo Alfaya at Bellator Fighting Championships 9 back on June 12.

The former middleweight made his Octagon debut against the crafty Carlos Condit at UFC Fight Night 19 just last month. The Elite Performance product was pouring it on in the opening round, but "The Natural Born Killer" hung on and survived, squeaking out a split decision victory.

That loss interrupted a four fight winning streak that saw Ellenberger take eight out of ten bouts with five (T)KO stoppages.

Like Ellenberger, Pyle didn't exactly have it easy in his UFC debut. "Quicksand" was knee deep in submissions trying to overcome the offense of top WEC prospect Brock Larson when he debuted at UFC 98: "Evans vs. Machida."

Despite getting choked out, Pyle quickly rebounded and did some choking of his own, sending Chris Wilson packing in the third round of their bout at UFC Fight Night 19.

Expect an entertaining and highly competitive scrap between these two.

UFC 108 is expected to feature a main event between 185-pound division deity Anderson "The Spider" Silva defending his division title against former light heavyweight champion Vitor "The Phenom" Belfort. Another former 205-pound champion, Rashad Evans, will also likely return to action against another Brazilian, Thiago Silva, in the co-featured fight of the night.

How the recent dissolution of the UFC 106 main event between Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin — now rumored to be heading for Jan. 2 — affects this tentative line up, remains to be seen.

In the meantime, check out the latest UFC 108 fight card and rumors click here.

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Comments

If Ellenberger can get to “off the charts” level cardio
He just might be the hardest pure puncher at WW.

I think he takes this one via TKO early 2nd round

by Big Zino on Oct 27, 2009 2:08 PM EDT reply actions

Agreed, he look tought against Condit but gassed out towards the end of the fight. Great cardio = bad news for the WW division.

by ejc301 on Oct 27, 2009 2:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Anthony Johnson and Alves would beg to differ. Still though that’s the only person i would put above him.

by NameNotRequired on Oct 27, 2009 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions

I don’t disagree NNR.

by Big Zino on Oct 27, 2009 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Sort of off topic, but who would you like to see Johnson fight next? An elite level striker or just a higher level fighter? Who do you think he’s ready for?

by Knighthawk on Oct 27, 2009 6:04 PM EDT up reply actions

WW really doesn’t have any kind of real striker besides Alves and Daley. I would actually love to see him against Daley but he would just take him down and work a top game against him. I wanna see him against either a veteran with a sturdy chin like lytle or a striker good enough to match him technically but had enough bottom game to make him hesitant about working the gnp -maybe condit (chin?), Irish “stand and bang” grenade? Otherwise someone who can take him down and work a top game. He’s definitely not ready for the dominant wrestlers yet, his sprawl maybe beast like but his athleticism would be nullified with technique. But guys like Brock Larson or Mike Pierce towards the bottom of that list of dominant wrestlers who could give him a good test before making the leap up. Damn that was long winded.

by NameNotRequired on Oct 28, 2009 12:03 AM EDT up reply actions

MMAWeekly is saying that he’s fighting Koschek now, that is going to be a terrible fight for Johnson unless Kos decides to play kickboxer. I have always found Kos’s fights entertaining even though he seems to be quite the douchebag. Sturdy chin, dynamic wrestling (if he uses it) hard striking and solid g’n’p. Oh and good octagon rage, to swarm and kill in there. So I’m picking Kos rd2 tko via bloody g’n’p.

by Knighthawk on Oct 28, 2009 8:58 AM EDT up reply actions

Say that this morning, Kos vs Rumble. Should be an interesting fight. I hope Kos doesn’t decide to stand and bang with Rumble, could be an early night for Kos, hope he fights smart. Hope Rumble makes weight or he could be forced to move up to MW.