Jake Ellenberger Doesn't Plan on Waiting Around for His Title Shot

The UFC's welterweight division is in a weird place these days.

On one hand, the division is finally being replenished with contenders after being manually depleted by champion Georges St-Pierre over the past few years. Where there was once Josh Koscheck, Matt Hughes and B.J. Penn, there is now Johny Hendricks, Jake Ellenberger, Carlos Condit and Nick Diaz. That's a good thing. 

The bad news? Everyone is in a holding pattern, at least until St-Pierre makes his planned November return and has his unification bout with interim champion Condit.

We know Hendricks already has a title shot, and he's planning on sitting on the sidelines until St-Pierre and Condit settle things. That means he's out of action until—judging by St-Pierre's habit of fighting just twice a year—likely next April at the earliest. 

And now the winner of Friday's fight between Jake Ellenberger and Martin Kampmann has also been promised a title shot. Granted, these title shots are not ironclad; they're a way to add intrigue to a television card that may not otherwise be much of a draw. But what happens if the winner decides to wait until after Hendricks gets his own title shot next year? You're looking at a layoff of longer than a year. 

Luckily, Ellenberger told Dann Stupp of MMAjunkie on Thursday that he's not planning on playing that game.

"

It'd be a long wait. I've not been one who likes to wait, especially when I'm doing well...Me, I keep moving forward. I don't want to sit out. My goal, the whole reason I'm in this sport, is to be a world champ. Getting to that (title) fight is ideal, but at the same time, I don't want to sit out six months or even a year.

"

At the end of the day, Ellenberger may not have to wait. According to the official UFC twitter account, UFC president Dana White plans on making a big announcement during Thursday night's weigh-ins.

"

Today at 7e/4p - TUF Finale weigh-in on ufc.com, youtube.com/ufc or FUEL TV (where Dana will make a big announcement!)

— UFC (@ufc) May 31, 2012"

What's the big announcement? Given that he's making it during the weigh-in show, I'm guessing it has something to do with the main event. Will be winner be given a shot at interim champion Carlos Condit, perhaps on the UFC on FOX show in August?

That would be interesting, wouldn't it?