FC Gym Stories: Jake Ellenberger Dances with 'The Spider'
FC Gym Stories: Jake Ellenberger Dances with 'The Spider'
By Tony ReidFor more than a decade, Jake Ellenberger has competed on the biggest stages in mixed martial arts. Ellenberger has also trained at his fair shar
By Tony Reid
For more than a decade, Jake Ellenberger has competed on the biggest stages in mixed martial arts.
Ellenberger has also trained at his fair share of elite gyms around the country. In the latest installment of our gym story series, he shares two tales from his time throwing elbows with some of the greats.
“One story would be from Kings MMA," Ellenberger said. "After the hardest week of training that I have ever had in my career he gave me an award for fighter of the month. It was really cool. I am surrounded by Wanderlei Silva, Shogun, Fabricio Werdum and even Anderson Silva. All these guys are legends of the sport. It was really cool to be recognized like that in this room of killers.”
Ellenberger's time at Kings MMA gave him the opportunity to test himself against one of the legends of the sport.
“I’ve actually sparred with Anderson before. That was a cool experience," Ellenberger said. "I got to give him a few pointers here and there with wrestling and transitions, and he did the same for me with Muay Thai. It’s been cool.”
Ellenberger's journey through MMA has even brought him into close quarters with Silva's arch-nemesis Chael Sonnen.
The former two-time multi-divisional title challenger used his brash persona and straight talk to become one of the biggest names in the sport. But Ellenberger saw a different man away from the spotlight.
“To go from being a fan of someone to training with them is pretty crazy," Ellenberger said "I've trained with Chael Sonnen quite a bit. It’s funny to see people’s public perception of certain guys. It’s a completely different game when you train with them. That guy is really, really good.
"I also remember training with Dan Henderson and thinking 'Who would want to fight this guy? How would you even hurt him?”'
For more than a decade, Jake Ellenberger has competed on the biggest stages in mixed martial arts.
Ellenberger has also trained at his fair share of elite gyms around the country. In the latest installment of our gym story series, he shares two tales from his time throwing elbows with some of the greats.
“One story would be from Kings MMA," Ellenberger said. "After the hardest week of training that I have ever had in my career he gave me an award for fighter of the month. It was really cool. I am surrounded by Wanderlei Silva, Shogun, Fabricio Werdum and even Anderson Silva. All these guys are legends of the sport. It was really cool to be recognized like that in this room of killers.”
Ellenberger's time at Kings MMA gave him the opportunity to test himself against one of the legends of the sport.
“I’ve actually sparred with Anderson before. That was a cool experience," Ellenberger said. "I got to give him a few pointers here and there with wrestling and transitions, and he did the same for me with Muay Thai. It’s been cool.”
Ellenberger's journey through MMA has even brought him into close quarters with Silva's arch-nemesis Chael Sonnen.
The former two-time multi-divisional title challenger used his brash persona and straight talk to become one of the biggest names in the sport. But Ellenberger saw a different man away from the spotlight.
“To go from being a fan of someone to training with them is pretty crazy," Ellenberger said "I've trained with Chael Sonnen quite a bit. It’s funny to see people’s public perception of certain guys. It’s a completely different game when you train with them. That guy is really, really good.
"I also remember training with Dan Henderson and thinking 'Who would want to fight this guy? How would you even hurt him?”'