A key welterweight bout has been added to July’s UFC On FOX 8 event as Rory MacDonald (14-1, 5-1 UFC) will take on Jake Ellenberger (29-6, 8-2 UFC) in a featured bout on the card. The Province first reported the news, and it was later confirmed by UFC officials.
UFC On FOX 8 takes place on July 27 from the Key Arena in Seattle, Washington.
MacDonald has been battling through a bit of an injury bug of late. He was slated to take on B.J. Penn in September before a cut forced him out of the bout. He eventually fought Penn at UFC On FOX 5, coincidentally also in Seattle, where he took home a unanimous decision. He called out Carlos Condit following the bout, and they were set to meet at UFC 158 in March, but MacDonald was forced out of that bout due to a neck and back injury. He will return in July as he puts his four-fight win streak on the line.
Ellenberger is coming off a huge first-round knockout win over former Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Nate Marquardt at UFC 158 last month. It marked Ellenberger’s second straight win, and Ellenberger has won eight of his last nine fights overall.
This will be a battle top four fighters in the UFC’s welterweight rankings as MacDonald is currently ranked third and Ellenberger is ranked fourth, which means this fight will have huge title shot implications.
