Jake Ellenberger doesn't buy Johny Hendricks' argument that fighting him is a less direct path to a welterweight title shot.
"That's completely wrong," he told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "He's trying to word it differently to make it sound like he's not taking the backdoor, which he is."
The usually respectful Ellenberger (28-6 MMA, 7-2 UFC) said he isn't taking it personally, but he's more than perturbed at an opponent switch that has him fighting ex-Strikeforce champ Nate Marquardt (32-11-2 MMA, 10-4 UFC) instead of Hendricks (14-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) next month at UFC 158. Earlier this week, Hendricks pulled out of his bout with Ellenberger to replace injured Rory MacDonald, and he now fights Carlos Condit (28-6 MMA, 5-2 UFC) in the UFC 158 co-main event.
Ellenberger said Hendricks' real motivation in fighting the former interim champ is to avoid a tougher opponent rather than getting a quicker title shot.
"[Hendricks has] beat a lot of great fighters, and people would argue he's the No. 1 contender, which I wouldn't disagree with," Ellenberger said. "But when you're in that position, you don't get to choose who you fight. So for him to call the shots is absolutely pathetic."
Hendricks defended himself Wednesday on MMAjunkie.com Radio and said it was his manager who lobbied directly to UFC President Dana White for Condit over Ellenberger. He did, however, admit the new opponent was a better fight for his career after he was passed over for Nick Diaz, who got the title fight with champ Georges St-Pierre in UFC 158's headliner. The event takes place March 16 at Montreal's Bell Centre.
Ellenberger, though, said Hendricks would have gotten what he wanted anyway by leaving things the way they were.
"Dana told him if he beats Jake Ellenberger, he gets a shot at the title," Ellenberger said. "That's what he told him. Johny took the back door and wanted to take a less dangerous fight, and I say that respectfully to Carlos."
White did say this past month that if Hendricks impressively beat Ellenberger, he would get a chance to fight the winner of St-Pierre vs. Diaz.
But Ellenberger clearly has more faith in White's statement than Hendricks, who publicly vented after St-Pierre called Diaz the No. 1 contender – despite Hendricks' first-round KO of Martin Kampann that earmarked him for the same position.
"You're the champion," Hendricks then said. "I get to say I want to fight you, and it's supposed to happen because I'm the No. 1 contender."
Given current circumstances, that's a pretty accurate description of Ellenberger's feelings toward Hendricks.
"I just think it's ridiculous for him to call the shots," he said. "As a professional fighter, that's not your job. You don't say who you're going to fight; you fight who they tell you."
Ellenberger said he's faced a similar scenario three times in his professional career and is excited to fight Marquardt, who's hoping to rebound after the loss of his Strikeforce title to Tarec Saffeidine in the promotion's final event this past month.
Ellenberger, too, looks to regain his footing in the welterweight division following a TKO loss to Kampmann, which derailed a six-fight win streak. He recently outpointed veteran Jay Hieron to get back in the win column.
"I don't let it affect me," Ellenberger said. "I'm still fighting the same night, so I'm good. But as far as him asking for that, it's like, really?' At the end of the day, it's his decision. My manager doesn't sign my contract. I do."
Source: MMAJunkie.com