Jake Ellenberger had been fighting for nearly five years when he finally got the call from the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). It's the moment every single person who straps on four ounce gloves hopes to one day see.

However, it wasn't under the most ideal of circumstances. The fight promotion was in a pinch and needed the Omaha native to replace Chris Lytle who was set to take on Carlos Condit but bowed out due to injury. "The Juggernaut" had only a little over a month to prepare for the former World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) Welterweight Champion.

Regardless, when opportunity came knocking on Ellenberger's door, he wasn't going to let the chance to fight for the UFC pass him.

"The Juggernaut" fell short against the now-interim welterweight champ but fought well enough to earn one of the judge's decisions. Beyond that, Ellenberger impressed countless fans who had never even heard of him before that night in Oklahoma City.

But kudos don't pay the bills. A victory inside the Octagon is something else altogether and necessary for any fighter not looking to find a place in an unemployment line.

Ellenberger finally got that win a few months later when he took on veteran Mike Pyle during a preliminary bout at UFC 108. He steps inside the Octagon this Friday (June 1) in the main event of The Ultimate Fighter Live Finale and he'll be facing off against fellow 170-pound title contender Martin Kampmann.

Before he does, we'll take a look at his bout against Pyle, an impressive victory for "The Juggernaut."

Let's go.

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When it came to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) landing a deal on network television, it was always a matter of "when" it would happen rather than "if."

The day finally came in Aug. 2011 when the world's top mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion announced a landmark deal with Fox, a seven-year partnership which kicked off three months later when Cain Velasquez defended his heavyweight title against the challenge of Junior dos Santos in a one-hour special.

A full fight card was put together that night in Anaheim, Calif., but the Fox broadcast was limited to the heavyweight tilt, a decision that would come back to bite both companies when the fight lasted all of one minute.

The Brazilian knocked out the champion in 64 seconds and became the sixteenth Heavyweight champion the UFC has crowned.

Tonight (May 26, 2012), he defends his title for the first time against Frank Mir in the main event of UFC 146. He was supposed to step inside the Octagon against Alistair Overeem but the man who retired Brock Lesnar was unable to secure a fight license thanks to a positive test for higher than normal testosterone levels.

Mir was removed from the co-main event -- a bout against Velasquez, likely to determine the next challenger -- and stepped in for "The Reem." The Dutch kickerboxer's loss suddenly became the Las Vegas-born Brazilian jiu-jitsu player's gain.

Before dos Santos tangles with the man who broke his mentor's arm, let's take a look at how "Cigano" became champion in the UFC's historic first bout on network television:

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At UFC 92, Frank Mir accomplished what no other fighter on the planet -- including Fedor Emelianenko -- had ever been able to when he stopped Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in the second round.

Going into the bout, Mir was seen as the massive underdog against one of the best heavyweights the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA) has produced; however, when the dust settled, the American had his arm raised and secured a rematch with Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar.

Almost immediately after the fight, rumors began swirling of a staph infection afflicting "Big Nog," putting the Brazilian at a level lower than normally expected and perhaps explaining the reason Mir was able to finish him off.

The former champion put any doubts to rest three years later when the two met inside the Octagon for the second time. At UFC 140, a healthy Nogueira was once again stopped by Mir. Only this time, the Brazilian wasn't felled by a series of punches, but rather a bone-breaking submission (see the carnage, before and after, here and here).

Before Mir challenges Junior Dos Santos for his title tonight at UFC 146, we'll take a look at that bout, a performance that secured the American's place as one of the elite fighters above 205 pounds.

Let's dive in.

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When Josh Barnett finally lost the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Heavyweight Championship, he didn't do so after getting knocked out by a challenger. It wasn't after an opponent wrapped his arms around Barnett's neck, forcing the American to tap.

He lost it after the lights in the arena had gone out, after the roar of the crowd had dissipated. He lost the title after a drug test he took following his victory over Randy Couture at UFC 36 came back positive for steroids.

He's maintained his innocence, a position taken with a grain of salt by most fans considering positive tests both prior and after his title bout with "The Natural." One came during an exploratory test by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, the other derailed his fight with Fedor Emelianenko on the ill-fated third Affliction card.

Still, Barnett remains one of the highest ranked heavyweights, more than a decade after his initial title win. With wins over Aleksander Emelianenko, Mark Hunt and "Big Nog" Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, his resume speaks for itself.

He collected another skull, as Barnett himself colorfully puts it, by defeating Sergei Kharitonov in the semifinals of Strikeforce's heavyweight grand prix, pitting him against Daniel Cormier in tonight's final.

Before Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" goes down, let's take a look at the catch wrestler's impressive submission win over the stoic Russian.

Let's go.

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The odds were not in Daniel Cormier's favor.

Sure, he had been wrestling since high school but he had only made his professional mixed martial arts (MMA) debut less than two years prior to his Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix semifinal bout against Antonio Silva. This is the same Silva who was coming off an absolute trouncing over potential G.O.A.T. Fedor Emelianenko.

Cormier's toughest test up to this point was a fight against Jeff Monson, a veteran heavyweight whose best days are definitely behind him. The former OIympian dominated his opponent over the course of three rounds in an impressive but altogether uninspiring affair.

Silva, meanwhile, was undefeated since 2007 aside from a decision loss to Fabricio Wedrum. Wins over Andrei Arlovski and Mike Kyle punctuated a three fight win streak along side the aforementioned technical knockout (TKO) over "The Last Emperor."

Cormier wasn't given much of a chance.

It's a far different story going into tomorrow's (May 19) Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" event where he takes on Josh Barnett to -- finally -- crown the promotion's heavyweight grand prix winner.

Despite Barnett's experience, Cormier is seen by many as the favorite. Perhaps it's because of how well he performed against "Bigfoot."

Let's take a closer look at that bout.

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In a parallel universe, Josh Grispi might be the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Featherweight Champion.

After four consecutive wins in World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) -- all stoppages, three by submission and one via technical knockout (TKO) -- Grispi was slated to challenge Jose Aldo at UFC 125 for the Brazilian's strap. Fate intervened, however, when an injury forced "Scarface" out of the bout at the last minute.

"The Fluke" remained on the card and was paired up against a fighter making his 145-pound debut. Everyone assumed the Massachusetts native would pick up the win and go on to face Aldo once the champion was healthy enough to fight.

Everyone except Dustin Poirier.

Nearly a 1.5 years removed from that bout on the first evening of 2011, "The Diamond" finds himself riding a five-fight win streak and headlining tonight's (May 15, 2012) UFC on FUEL TV 3: "Korean Zombie vs. Poirier" card against Chan Sung Jung.

Poirier is on the cusp of a title shot and a win over Jung at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, Va., will push him over the edge and right in the sights of either Aldo or Erik Koch, whichever one of the two emerges victorious at UFC 149.

"The Diamond" didn't get to this position by luck or happenstance. Hard work, perseverance and all the other elements that make a great fighter have afforded him this opportunity.

And it all started at UFC 125.

Let's take a closer look at his bout with Grispi:

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When World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) held their one and only pay-per-view event before closing up shop and being absorbed into the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), they hoped to entice potential buyers with a couple of free fight offerings on Spike TV.

The first was future WEC lightweight champ Anthony Pettis choking out The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 1 veteran Alex Karalexis with a triangle choke.

The second would go down as the 2010 Fight of the Year.

For 15 minutes, Chan Sung Jung and Leonard Garcia stood toe to toe and went to war. "Bad Boy" earned the split decision nod and less than a year later, the two warriors met once again -- this time inside the Octagon -- to settle the score.

Before "Korean Zombie" tangles with Dustin Poirier in the main event of Tuesday's (May 15) UFC on FUEL TV 3 event, we'll take a look at that rematch and its remarkable finish.

Let's go.

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There's something about Jeremy Stephens.

Put him inside the Octagon with just about anyone and if his opponent is willing to stand and trade with the knockout artist, fans will have themselves one hell of a scrap.

There are, of course, instances where "Lil' Heathen's" opponent would rather fight to win as in the case when Stephens took on Melvin Guillard and Anthony Pettis. Each lightweight came away with a victory over the Iowa native and more power to them. The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is a cut-throat business and only a couple of consecutive losses can find a fighter unemployed.

Fortunately for fans at UFC 125, Marcus Davis isn't that kind of fighter. He's the go out on your shield kind of guy and when he and Stephens collided on the first night of 2011, they provided more than enough fireworks to ring in the new year.

Stephens has a fight coming up which promises to be just as exciting. On May 15, he's set to take on World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) veteran Donald Cerrone at UFC on FUEL TV 3: "Korean Zombie vs. Poirier." He stepped in for an injured Yves Edwards and immediately fans began wringing their hands in anticipation of what is sure to be an all-out war.

Before "Lil' Heathen" steps inside the Octagon in Fairfax, VA, let's take a look at his performance against Davis, one which earned him his third Knockout of the Night bonus.

Let's go!

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