As things came into focus for Ellenberger, he began to carve his way through the welterweight division. Four impressive victories, with three coming via stoppage, put him on the UFC’s radar for title contenders. Things were moving in the right direction.
But, feeling he needed to be pushed harder, Ellenberger and Ross decided to look for the next step. Ross reached out to his long time friend Mark Munoz, and Ellenberger headed to southern California and Munoz’s Reign Training Center.
“Being a coach, one of the biggest things to recognize was that Jake had outgrown the room he was in, so to speak,” Ross said. “There are a lot of good fighters in Omaha, but Jake needed a different look and perspective on what it takes to be the best. Mark Munoz and I have known each other for about ten years. We did wrestling camps all over the nation together. We became really good friends, and while we never were able to spend a lot of time together, it was one of those relationships where you see someone six months later and you pick up right where you left off.
“Jake and I were evaluating where he was at, and he made a list of all the things he wanted to accomplish. I could have been selfish and told him I thought the best thing for him was to stay in Omaha, but I wanted the very best for Jake and I knew the only place he could get the things he needed would be to go out to California with Mark. We went out there, I introduced them and they really clicked. They are great friends, great training partners and really push each other at a high level.”
Ellenberger also shared his thoughts on the move to Reign Training Center.
“I had been training out in California, going back and forth for about a year and a half. I finally decided to make the move and relocate there full-time. It has definitely helped me in many different aspects. There are so many good guys to be around, and Reign has a very positive atmosphere. The coaches are great, and Mark is a great leader. He is very selective on who comes in to be a part of the family. It’s obviously working out. We all help one another and push each other to bring out the best in all of us.”
Munoz, who is currently one of the UFC’s top middleweights, accepted Ellenberger with open arms. He wasted no time putting Jake into the mix.
“Jake is a special kind of guy,” Munoz stated. “He is one of the hardest working guys I know. Jake has the heart of a champion and he is been a blessing to have at Reign. Our entire team pushes one another to be the very best we can be and Jake is a big part of that. I’m particular about who I allow to train at the gym because I want to have the best atmosphere and always keep things positive. He’s got a bright future ahead of him.”
Ross also shared his thoughts on what sets Jake apart from other fighters.
“He has an insatiable desire to improve, and that takes humility. He just got back from a trip to Brazil and he was rolling with third and fourth-degree black belts and getting tapped all the time , but learning every step of the way. A lot of guys with high level jiu-jitsu avoid those situations because they don’t want to get exposed, but Jake has tremendous humility. He is probably one of the most teachable guys I’ve ever been around.
“He’s such an incredible athlete and I won’t let him tell you anything different. He has an incredible gift and tremendous power. I haven’t worked with very many guys who generate such a huge amount of power in such a little space. He really only needs about a half turn with his hip rotation to really put a hurt on someone. He’s a special kind of fighter and I really believe he has all the tools to become a world champion.”
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With a new home in Orange County and a solid focus on the road ahead, Ellenberger was firing on all cylinders when the UFC tapped him to headline his first event earlier this fall. He knew he had worked his way towards the top of the division, but when his opponent was announced to be Jake Shields, it caught him off guard.
“I was surprised when I found out I was getting Shields,” Ellenberger said. “Everyone knows what he has done and accomplished in the sport and it was exciting for me to know I was going to be fighting him. I was excited for that challenge. The opportunity to headline a card for the UFC really made me feel everything was coming together at the right time. It was quite humbling.
“Going into the fight I definitely thought I could beat him. It happened faster than I anticipated. Shields is one of the best guys in the sport and I can’t sit here and pat myself on the back because I have to keep moving forward. I have another tough fight ahead of me with Diego Sanchez, so I just have to keep working hard.”
Sanchez is a long-time UFC veteran and former Ultimate Fighter cast member. Formerly known as “The Nightmare” Sanchez has gone through changes of his own. After tough losses to B.J. Penn and John Hathaway, Sanchez decided to focus on the positive factors in his life, even going so far as to change his nickname from “Nightmare” to “The Dream.” On February 15, he takes a two-fight winning streak into Ellenberger’s backyard for the UFC’s inaugural live event on Fuel.
“I think it’s a great match-up,” Ellenberger stated. “I think it’s exciting because he’s always ready and shows up to fight. He comes into his fights in shape, and he’s definitely a hard guy to finish. Diego is one of the guys I’ve been watching over the past four or five years, and it’s an honor to compete against him. I have to figure out a way to beat him.
“There is no other place on the planet I would rather fight than Omaha. It’s my hometown, where I was born and raised, and it’s definitely another motivating factor for me to go out and get the win.”
If Ellenberger beats Sanchez, he’ll almost certainly move into title contention. The welterweight division was once thought to be cleared out by Georges St-Pierre, but the past year has seen several new fighters separate themselves from the pack. Ellenberger isn’t concerned with title shots at the moment, but he knows he’ll get there with hard work and determination.
“A lot of people never believed in me. I’m okay with that because I have my brother and the rest of my family that do believe in me. My coaches are also a big part of that equation. But outside of that, I don’t need anyone else. I’m definitely not in this business to make friends. I’m here to be a world champion.”