Jake Ellenberger says he's fighting Tarec Saffiedine at UFC 172 in April
A bout originally scheduled to headline this month’s UFC Fight Night 34 is back on for UFC 172.
Welterweight Jake Ellenberger (29-7 MMA, 8-3 UFC) today announced via his personal website that he is fighting Tarec Saffiedine (15-3 MMA, 1-0 UFC) at the pay-per-view event, which takes place April 26 at Baltimore Arena in Baltimore.
While the exact position of the fight on the spring card is unknown, Ellenberger posted it would be seen live on pay-per-view. The event’s preliminary card is expected to air on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.
Saffiedine is back in the swing of things after beating Ellenberger’s replacement, Hyun Gyu Lim, at UFC Fight Night 34 in Singapore. Although Lim was outstruck for the majority of the fight, he refused to be finished despite taking several stiff leg kicks over five rounds, after which Saffiedine earned a unanimous decision.
The fight was Saffiedine’s first since a series of injuries kept him benched for most of 2013 following a win over Nate Marquardt that netted him the Strikeforce welterweight title in the promotion’s final event. He has won his past five bouts.
Ellenberger, who withdrew from UFC Fight Night 34 with a torn hamstring, needs an impressive win to make up for lost ground in a listless performance against Rory MacDonald at this past July’s UFC on FOX 8, which put him on the wrong side of a decision. The setback was yet another roadblock on an otherwise impressive march to the title that’s seen him stop five of eight opponents via TKO or KO.
This past month, Ellenberger called out onetime title challenger Carlos Condit before his bout was scheduled against Saffiedine.
After UFC Fight Night 34, Saffiedine expressed a willingness to rebook the fight against Ellenberger.
