Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) welterweight competitor Jake Ellenberger faced a tough opponent at UFC Fight Night 108. The fighter went toe-to-toe with Mike “Platinum” Perry in the night’s event. However, things did not go Ellenberger’s way.
Ellenberger suffered a vicious elbow strike to the head in the second round. The stunning blow knocked Ellenberger out cold, sending him to another loss. Having only won two of his nine most recent fights, speculation of the fighter’s retirement have begun to spread.
However, Jake Ellenberger does not share these rumors. He says he’s going nowhere. The mixed martial artist recently sat down with MMA Junkie to explain his thoughts on the retirement rumors.
“Unfortunately, I’ve been in this place before,” Ellenberger told MMAjunkie Radio. “Nobody can decide (but me). I’ve been a critic, myself, talking about guys and when they should be done, but it’s really no one’s decision but your own. The many ways I picured that fight going, (getting knocked out) was never a thought. That’s what makes this sport as interesting and unique as it is. I know what time it is. I know my door’s coming to a close, but that’s not how I want to be finished. I know what time it is. I’m 32. I’m not 22 anymore. But I still enjoy what I do.”
Ellenberger then explained that a few different things come to mind when the fighter considers his career.
“For me, health is No. 1,” he said. “My family, my son – these things are definitely the most important. 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.”
