In some news that was quietly released on Sunday, it appears we have a main event for UFC Fight Night 25, dubbed “Battle on the Bayou”.
MMAFighting.com reported Sunday night that welterweights Jake Shields and Jake Ellenberger will collide. First rumors thought the bout may take place in San Jose at UFC 138, but it was announced on Tuesday that it will take place at UFC Fight Night 25.
Though the fight has not yet been made official by the UFC, sources close to the bout confirmed to MMA Fighting last week that the fighters have agreed to the planned matchup for this fall.
While a location for the fight is not yet certain, one possibility is the UFC’s planned Nov. 19 card in San Jose, Calif. That will be the promotion’s debut in the northern California city, about 40 miles south of the San Francisco Bay area, where Shields lives and trains. That event is likely to be UFC 138, though it has not yet been made official by the UFC.
Shields (26-5-1) is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Georges St. Pierre at UFC 129 while Ellenberger (25-5) has won four in a row. His last win was a first round KO of Sean Pierson at UFC 129.
Ellenberger is one of the promotion’s top rising welterweights and this will be the biggest fight he has had to date. His striking should be vastly superior to that of Shields, but his takedown defense and grappling will certainly be tested.
