Jake Ellenberger vs. Carlos Condit II at UFC 171? Ellenberger is game

This much we know: Carlos Condit will fight in a No. 1 contender’s bout at UFC 171, and Matt Brown, Nick Diaz and Tyron Woodley have been ruled out as potential opponents. Jake Ellenberger, meanwhile, is game for a rematch with the former interim champ.

Ellenberger, who suffered a narrow split-decision defeat to Condit at UFC Fight Night 19 back in 2009, apparently has been asked about the open slot. On Sunday evening, he gave his answer.

I've been getting bombarded from the fans about Condit/Ellenberger II fight -If that's what you guys want, I'm in!—
Jake Ellenberger (@EllenbergerMMA) December 16, 2013

The UFC welterweight division was thrown into a state of chaos this past week when long-reigning champion Georges St-Pierre vacated his title and announced an indefinite hiatus from fighting. The UFC then booked Johny Hendricks (15-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) and Robbie Lawler (22-9 MMA, 7-3 UFC) for a title fight at UFC 171, which takes place March 15 at American Airlines Center in Dallas.

Condit (29-7 MMA, 6-3 UFC) also was booked for the pay-per-view card, though an opponent hasn’t been finalized for the title eliminator. Brown, who was forced out of a planned UFC on FOX 9 bout with Condit due to a back injury, won’t get the slot, according to White. Additionally, White said Diaz turned it down, and he said Woodley isn’t ranked high enough for the fight.

In that regard, Ellenberger (29-7 MMA, 8-3 UFC) may be an attractive option for the UFC. With St-Pierre still No. 1 in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA welterweight rankings, No. 2 Hendricks and No. 11 Lawler will fight for the vacant title. Condit is ranked No. 3, and No. 4 Diaz, No. 9 Brown and Woodley (who’s an honorable mention and outside the top 15) have been ruled out. Unless No. 5 Rory MacDonald is pulled from a UFC 170 bout with No. 8 Demian Maia, No. 6 Ellenberger is the highest-ranked candidate.

Ellenberger was on an 8-1 run, which included victories over the likes of Jake Shields and Nate Marquardt, before a recent decision loss to MacDonald at UFC on FOX 8. He was then slated to fight Tarec Saffiedine next month at UFC Fight Night 34. However, Ellenberger suffered a hamstring injury and pulled out of the bout.

Apparently confident he’d be ready in time for UFC 171, Ellenberger has now made his case for the Condit rematch.

For the latest on UFC 171, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.

(Pictured: Jake Ellenberger)