Jake Ellenberger set to face Josh Koscheck at UFC 151
News has broke that the co-main event to September’s UFC 151 featuring Jon Jones vs. Dan Henderson is set. Welterweights Jake Ellenberger and Josh Koscheck will square off in the Octagon in a bout of two highly-ranked fighters coming off of a loss. Both looking to get back on track and claw towards the title shot, the fight presents a very interesting dynamic for a division that is currently experiencing quite the logjam at the top.
Ellenberger was one of the UFC’s most talked-about fighters after defeating Diego Sanchez and Jake Shields en route to a six-fight winning streak. The wheels came off a bit however, as Ellenberger lost in brutal fashion to the surging Martin Kampmann. Ellenberger rocked the always tough Kampmann in the first, but could not finish the deal. Unable to sleep after that devastating loss, the fight has fueled Ellenberger’s fire, as he has reevaluated his training. While talk of a title shot is long gone, he could do a lot to get back on that path at UFC 151.
Across the cage, veteran UFC Welterweight Josh Koscheck will await. Never one to mince words or hold back his true feelings, he did just that when he spoke out against his controversial loss to Johny Hendricks. While the fight may have been close, the reality is that Koscheck finds himself in a very similar position as Ellenberger, both needing a win something fierce to stay relevant. Koscheck may be in a bit more of an urgent situation as he is the older fighter. It will be tough for him to rise back to the upper rungs of the 170 lb. world, as he has already lost to Georges St. Pierre and has a lot of talent ranked below him.
Both fighters are extremely well versed in wrestling with KO power to boot, no doubt effective styles. Ellenberger has put on more exciting finishes while Koscheck has fought the better competition over the long-haul. This bout will be an extremely exciting affair, as one of Welterweight’s best fighters will find himself on a dreaded two-fight losing streak. Coupled with UFC 154 in November, which is rumored to feature GSP vs. Carlos Condit and Johny Hendricks vs. Martin Kampmann, and you have an explosive scenario set to unfold in the UFC Welterweight division.
Further Reading: Jake Ellenberger: I can’t sleep at night after losing to Kampmann
