UFC on FUEL TV: Jake Ellenberger Battles Diego Sanchez In Welterweight Bout

Jake Ellenberger faces Diego Sanchez in the main event of the UFC on FUEL TV on Wednesday night. Aaron Simpson, fighting out of Gilbert, Arizona, fights on the main card against Ronny Markes.

By Ryan Bafaloukos Feb 14, 2012, 6:01am MST

Jake Ellenberger (pictured) faces Diego Sanchez at UFC on FUEL TV on Wednesday night. Photo courtesy of MMA Valor

The UFC makes its debut on FUEL TV as welterweights DIego Sanchez and Jake Ellenberger battle in Omaha, Nebraska. The event takes place at the Omaha Civic Auditorium and marks the first UFC main card to be shown on FUEL TV.

Jake Ellenberger (26-5) has won five fights in a row since his split decision loss to Carlos Condit in September of 2009. Four of those wins have come via knockout, including a 53 second knockout of Jake Shields back in September. Ellenberger has 17 career victories by knockout and has 22 finishes in 26 career victories.

Diego Sanchez (23-4) has been in the UFC since 2005 when he won "The Ultimate Fighter" season one. Sanchez has notable victories over Nick Diaz, Clay Guida and Martin Kampmann his his UFC career.

After a four year stint at welterweight from 2005-2008, Sanchez moved down to lightweight in 2009 and worked his way to a title shot against the legendary BJ Penn. After a loss against Penn at UFC 107, Sanchez moved back to welterweight, where he has won two fights in a row.

His last two fights, against Paulo Thiago and Martin Kampmann, have both been awarded "Fight of the Night."

Arizona's own Aaron Simpson fights on the main card, televised on FUEL TV. Simpson (11-2) wrestled at Arizona State, earning NCAA All-American status in 1996 and 1998 and collecting 110 victories as a Sun Devil.

Simpson is a native of Wellton, AZ and graduated from Antelope High School in 1993, Simpson went 142-1 in his high school wrestling career.

Simpson spent nine seasons as an assistant wrestling coach at ASU. Coaching 12 Pac-10 Champions and notable UFC fighters: C.B. Dolloway, Ryan Bader and Cain Velasquez. Simpson also mentored six different grapplers to All-American honors.

Full bout list of the UFC on FUEL TV

Main Card (FUEL TV):

Welterweight: Jake Ellenberger vs. Diego Sanchez

Heavyweight: Stefan Struve vs. Dave Herman

Middleweight: Aaron Simpson vs. Ronny Markes

Heavyweight: Stipe Miocic vs. Phillip De Fries

Bantamweight: T.J. Dillashaw vs. Walel Watson

Bantamweight: Ivan Menjivar vs. John Albert

Preliminary Card (Facebook):

Featherweight: Jonathan Brookins vs. Vagner Rocha

Middleweight: Buddy Roberts vs. Sean Loeffler

Lightweight: Anton Kuivanen vs. Justin Salas