Ellenberger to fight on after nasty KO loss: 'I haven't missed a step'
Jake Ellenberger isn't hanging up his gloves just yet.
Just over a week removed from the receiving end of an early KO of the Year candidate, "The Juggerknaut" told "MMAjunkie Radio" that while his career is certainly in its twilight, the quality of his work in the gym hasn't dipped, making his retirement plan a far less cut-an-dry affair than his current 2-7 slump would indicate.
"For me, health is No. 1. My family, my son - these things are definitely the most important," Ellenberger said, according to MMAjunkie's Matt Erickson. "But you have to ask yourself why you’re still in it, and do you have a date when you want to be done. People’s careers come to an end before most of them anticipate it in most professional sports. I think i have a good idea when I’m going to be done, and I think that’s a big part of the exit strategy.
"If I’m struggling or not doing well in the gym, that’s an easy sign to the door. But when I’m beating everybody in the gym - everything’s going right right now. Everything’s clicking. What happened with Perry happened. But I haven’t missed a step. I’m not slowing down. I’m pretty cerebral. I had a great strategy. It’s one of those things - things were going very well for me, so it’s easy to say I’m not done."
Ellenberger emerged as a welterweight contender by winning eight of his first 10 fights in the Octagon, but the last four years haven't been nearly as kind. The 32-year-old is winless in seven of his last nine - including five losses by stoppage - with the brutal KO he suffered at Mike Perry's hands in Nashville leaving many wondering whether it was time to hang 'em up. Ellenberger, however, deems his performance in training a far better gauge of how much he has left than what takes place on fight night.
"It was probably the best I’d been in four or five years - the best I’d felt physically. Everything was definitely clicking. I’m very objective with myself. I’m not going to let my ego get in the way. I had no continuing symptoms, no headaches, nothing that continued to affect me (after the knockout). I feel normal. But it’s one of those things - you’ve got to take a little time and reflect."