Although UFC Welterweight champ Georges St. Pierre is set to take on KO machine Johny Hendricks at UFC 167 in November, many believe the largest threat to GSP’s title is a man who trains side by side with the champ at Canada’s Tristar gym, Rory MacDonald.
Even though both GSP and the 24-year-old MacDonald have vowed to never fight one another, it almost seems destined.
However, before we anoint MacDonald to No. 1 contender status, he must face his toughest test to date against another young welterweight stud, Jake Ellenberger.
Let’s take a closer look at this Saturday’s fantastic co-main event.
Jake Ellenberger
Affectionately known as “The Juggernaut”, Ellenberger is exactly that — a brooding come forward type of fighter with great movement and devastating power. Ellenberger is a phenomenal athlete and a wrestler by trade (NCAA Division II), but the brutal KO power he has displayed against the likes of Nate Marquardt and Jake Shields have made him a fan favorite.
For Ellenberger to be successful this Saturday he will have to fight a bit more disciplined and paced against a man like MacDonald. He cannot be as wild and aggressive as usual. Instead, he needs to use a more measured attack, specifically against his opponent’s jab. MacDonald has been using his jab often as of late, just ask BJ — and you can bet he’ll be firing away with it on Saturday.
Ellenberger must time his opponent’s jab and look to come over the top with one of his monstrous left hooks or crushing knees to end MacDonald’s night abruptly. This is easier said than done but “The Juggernaut” has some of the best head movement in the division and can also cover distance rather quickly once he’s stunned his opponent. He must avoid being taken down by the better wrestler, MacDonald, at all costs.
Rory MacDonald
Whether you want to call him “Ares” or “The Canadian Psycho,” it doesn’t really matter. MacDonald is one of the rare fighters who is in fact truly scarier than his fighting nickname. The best way to describe his fighting style is if you took a less athletically gifted but larger GSP and armed him with a premium killer instinct.
His stand up technique is extremely tight (although sometimes he comes forward with his chin up), his wrestling on par with some of the sport’s best. His ground and pound is vicious as well. MacDonald is a complete MMA fighter. In order to beat Ellenberger, MacDonald will have to do what he does best and that’s controlling the pace of the fight. You can bet that head trainer Firas Zahabi will have the perfect game plan for defeating Ellenberger and that MacDonald will follow it to a T.
MacDonald must use his three-inch reach advantage and keep Ellenberger at the end of his punches. If he can manage to get Ellenberger against the cage, look for MacDonald to unload a wealth of punishment through knees and elbows before he takes his man to the ground. From there he can look to setup a submission or just simply pound Ellenberger into oblivion with his ever evolving top game.
The Bottom Line
According to Bodog, MacDonald is favored (-240) against the live underdog Ellenberger (+190).
If Ellenberger can pace himself correctly and pick his shots carefully we could be in for a classic. You can also bet your bottom dollar that if Ellenberger comes out wild and overly aggressive he will succumb to impending doom in the form of Rory MacDonald.
Zachary Hutton is the lead boxing writer and an MMA contributor for CraveOnline Sports. You can see what he’s up to at his band’s website myunclethewolf.com or also subscribe on Facebook.
