Ellenberger set to headline Ultimate Fighter 21 Finale against Thompson

As is a common occurrence in the world of mixed martial arts, a career, momentum, fate and fortune can turn oh so quickly.

For Jake “The Juggernaut” Ellenberger, an unprecedented losing streak that had him free falling in the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s welterweight rankings despite the level of competition, was seemingly expunged in less than two rounds with a February submission of Josh Koscheck.

And now, Ellenberger finds himself in the main event of Sunday’s “The Ultimate Fighter 21 Finale” from Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena, toeing the line with rising prospect Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson. The card airs live Sunday at 6 p.m. on Fox Sports 1.

Despite the change of fortune, nothing feels all that different for Ellenberger, however.

“To be honest, not really. There’s guys you expect to beat, like Koscheck,” Ellenberger said. “You can’t spend too much time looking in the rear view whether you win or lose. You just always have to focus on improving.”

Ellenberger, who trains at a few Southern California locales including the Glendale Fighting Club, is ranked ninth in the 170-pound weight class with a 30-9 record overall and a 9-5 mark in the UFC.

Thompson (12-1, 5-1) is looking to take his biggest step forward in the UFC ranks with his first main event and a shot at breaking into the UFC’s top 15 ranking.

“I think this is an important fight for me,” Thompson said. “This is definitely to show the UFC and the fans that I’m definitely ready for the next level of competition.”

While the storyline may be viewed as the up-and-comer in Thompson looking to take down the veteran Ellenberger, Thompson is actually 32, two years the senior of Ellenberger, 30. But Ellenberger is clearly the elder in terms of fight years, having faced top competition such as Carlos Condit, Jake Shields, Mike Pyle, Rick Story, Diego Sanchez and Nate Marquardt.

“I love the opportunity, I love the fight,” Ellenberger said. “This is a new position for him to be in; the main event, the spotlight. For me, it’s nothing new, I’m relaxed.”

Thompson is riding a four-fight winning streak into the five-round bout with a unanimous decision over veteran Patrick Cote on Sept. 27 as his last bout.

Though, admittedly, the main event brings added weight, Thompson is not letting it burden him too greatly.

“There is some added pressure, but it’s nothing too much,” Thompson said. “They put us [in the main event] for a reason.

“The UFC is expecting us to put on a show and I’m gonna do my best to go out there and do that.”

Thompson brings a somewhat unorthodox karate style to the octagon, but it’s one Ellenberger views as a diversion more than anything.

“The way he fights, the way he stands, is really a distraction,” Ellenberger said. “The value of that behavior is whatever you give it.

“Realizing that for me, I’ve been able to take him out of the equation and just focus on what I need to do.”

Ellenberger’s win over Koscheck came after his first career losing streak, which saw losses to welterweight champion Robbie Lawler, Rory MacDonald (who’s ranked second and challenging Lawler on Saturday), and to Kelvin Gastellum, a top-10 welterweight who has moved to middleweight.

Ellenberger boasts 18 career knockouts, though he’ll be aiming for his first since knocking out Marquardt in March of 2013.

“Jake has crazy power in his hands,” said Thompson, who has five knockout wins to his credit. “He’s one of those guys that has one-hitter-quitter power in his hands and I have to be careful about that. I have to find my range.”

Indeed, Thompson believes his biggest strength will be in letting his striking dictate the fight.

“I think he’s gonna go out there first round and try to bang with me and after he figures out he can’t, he’s gonna try to take me down,” said Thompson, who has called on reigning UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman, among others, to train his wrestling game. “My goal is to go out there and frustrate him.

“I’m confident wherever the fight goes. I’m just gonna go out there and pick him apart.”

To no surprise, Ellenberger is confident in his all-around game.

“Whether it’s the clinch, the ground or inside, I think I’m just better wherever this fight goes,” Ellenberger said.

The bout was originally scheduled for Saturday’s blockbuster UFC 189 pay-per-view headlined by a UFC interim bantamweight title match between Connor McGregor and Chad Mendes. However, it was moved to headline Sunday’s card, which will also serve as the curtain call to the UFC’s International Fight Week in Las Vegas, which is traditionally viewed as the company’s biggest week on the calendar.

Thus, as Ellenberger looks to maintain his standing and climb back up the welterweight ranks, he’ll also look to put an exclamation point on one very big week.

“It’s always big to be in the main event,” Ellenberger said. “It’s the best week of the year to be in Vegas.”