Shields vs Elleberger Set To Headline UFC Fight Night 25: Battle on the Bayou

Scheduled for September 17, UFC Fight Night 25: Battle on the Bayou now has main event. The headliner will be a Welterweight bout pitting former Strikeforce Middleweight champion and contender Jake Shields against hard hitting wrestler Jake Ellenberger. Shields will come into the bout off an unsuccessful attempt to capture the title from reigning UFC Welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre at UFC 129: St. Pierre vs Shields. Ellenberger will be coming into the bout on a four fight winning streak that includes a Rnd1 KO over Sean Pierson also at UFC 129 where he was a late replacement fighting on seventeen days notice. There is confusion among fans and analysts about this main event seeing as Shields is coming in to headline a Fight Night card instead of headlining or co-headlining a major event after recently fighting for the division title. The next bit of confusion stems from the fact that this bout will be contested in the normal three round format, even after UFC President Dana White's promise that all non-title main events booked following UFC 133: Evans vs Davis would be contended with five-five minute rounds. So fight contracts for already signed bouts would not be rearranged and so fighters already preparing for tree round bouts would not have to change up their camps and training regiment, White stated that all headlining non-title bouts following Evans vs Davis would allow five rounds instead of the usual three. Seeing as Shields is still one of the elite Welterweights in the sport and Ellenberger is on the brink of finally becoming a recognized contender, this would prove to be a worthy main event to make use of the new format for non-title headlining bouts. Both fighters have good cardio and push the pace with their respected fighting styles. So why not make this go the full distance?