Jake Ellenberger: Interim belt means nothing, GSP is the real champ
Posted on February 19, 2012, 01:21 PM by Anton Gurevich
“I think I should’ve been clearer on what I want and who I want to fight,” Ellenberger said. “I think I can beat Carlos Condit, and that’s really the fight I want. That’s the fight I’m hoping and praying for – but it’s not my decision. It’s absolutely what I want, though. I’ve fought him before, and now I’m a completely different fighter. I know I can beat him and it’s definitely the fight I want. Carlos has said he wants to wait, and while I can understand his position, it doesn’t stop me from wanting that fight.
To be honest an interim belt doesn’t mean anything. It would be cool to wear around and say you were the interim champ, but at the end of the day, you are not the king. Georges St-Pierre is the king, and until somebody beats him he’s still the true champion of the division. Even if I were in that position, it would be the same thing. If I go out and beat Carlos Condit, I’m not the champion of the division because Georges St-Pierre is the reigning champion and unless you beat him, then you aren’t. It’s that simple. You have to beat the champ to become the champ. Georges is that guy.” - For more interesting quotes from Jake Ellenberger, please visit Heavy.com/MMA.
Top Welterweight contender Jake Ellenberger addressed a number of issues in an exclusive interview with Heavy.com.
More than anything, Ellenberger made it clear that he wants to fight Carlos Condit for the Interim belt, after giving a somewhat unclear reply to Jon Anik's "generic question" back at UFC on Fuel TV 1. The Juggernaut could also find himself in the cage against the winner of Hendricks vs. Koscheck bout, which will take place on May 5th at UFC on FOX 3. Timing-wise, Condit vs. Ellenberger II makes more sense, if "The Natural Born Killer" decides not to wait around 10 months for the reigning champ Georges St. Pierre.
Jake Ellenberger is currently on a six-fight winning streak (27-5 in MMA), with victories over Jake Shields and Diego Sanchez in two of his most recent bouts.
Comments
This is the combat version of "his eyes are bigger than his stomach". Be careful what you wish for Jake. Take time to develop further.
Righhhht.........Wait..What????
I actually would like to see Ellenberger put a beating on Condit , then, fight GSP.
I'd rather see Ellenbeger vs GSP ,than COndit vs GSP
Meh.not impressed at all by this guy after nightmare was pounding him and got robbed by some genius turning a 5 round fight into a 3 round so he could squeek a decision out.
Never mind the true champion or even the interim long-distance champion,you're extremely lucky you're not nursing a loss by sucking on the foot in your mouth and you really ought to thank whatever big-wig helped you pull that off,publicly.
you say that like they decided to make it 3 rounds only after the 3rd round just to Jake would win. I remember Jake getting off the mat before the round ended anyway so its not like he was saved by the bell. Diego knew it was 3 rounds and that he had to finish the fight so he blew it like he seems to always do in big fights.
...Uhh there's this thing called stamina which is sorta kinda a factor in alot of fights....
And uhhh 3 is a bigger number than 5 i believe? So if ellenberger was getting tired and fading after 3 while diaz was fine, it's pretty safe to say more of the same would have continued into later rounds.
Also, it was said loooong ago that all main events would be 5 rounds, so whatever...sharp as a brick.
Ellenberger was out of gas and looked horrible in the third round against Sanchez, how does he expect to go 5 rounds with GSP.
The difference is he trained for and fought a fight knowing it was three rounds. Against gsp he knows that will be a five rounder so he will train and fight accordingly. That being said he doesn't have a chance
So he trained for a 3 rounder and he gassed in the third.
And if he fight GSP,he will train for a 5 rounds bout...and wont gas in the 4th and 5th....
What you're saying is; He did not trained and fought accordingly (according to his training regiment and the length of the fight!).Cuz like @ripstic5021 said; "Ellenberger was out of gas and looked horrible in the third round against Sanchez".
Which I agree with,cuz he was frankly dominated in the third.
And you're right,he doesnt have a chance against GSP. (IMO of course!)
Jake stating a bunch of obvious stuff. He has no business fighting GSP. He'd get owned pretty good.
Jake KO'ing Shields gave him a bit more momentum than he really deserves IMO.
Jake got lucky his last fight wasn't a 5 rounder... Diego was destroying his face in the third round... Jake wouldn't have lasted on the 4 round... And Carlos or GSP would whoop Jake easy now a days...
You guys are right;GSP would whooped his ass.No doubt abt it!
But Jake is right abt the meaning of an "interim belt" tho!
The best "attitude" I've seen abt this topic is when GSP fought Hugues for the third time.
It was for the interim championship.
GSP won that fight (by sub,armbar).
And after the bout,when Dana put the belt around his waist,GSP took it right off,saying something like; "Tnx to the UFC for the "souvenir",its a great honor,but I'm not the champion.
The champion is Matt Serra and until I dont beat Serra,I wont be the champion."
Thats what I was hoping to see from Carlos!
But it was far from that....his father and him were kissing the belt like it was a ....Oh well...That was my 2ยข.