(Update) UFC 111: Ben Saunders now looking to put on a show against Jon Fitch

On Saturday, March 27, the UFC will venture into Newark, N.J., to hold what some consider to potentially be the largest card of 2010.

In the main event, the organization is set to welcome back welterweight champion and pound-for-pound great Georges St. Pierre, as he defends against British superstar Dan Hardy.

However, before St. Pierre and Hardy go to battle, there is another welterweight who will look to put his stamp on the welterweight division.

Ben “Killa B” Saunders (8-1-2) takes on Jake Ellenberger (22-5) in his first bout since his first-round destruction of Marcus Davis at UFC 106 last November.

Saunders displayed vicious knees from the clinch and became the first man to ever render Davis unconscious.

In speaking with Bleacher Report, the welterweight fighter says the victory was the most gratifying of his career.

“It was amazing on so many levels. One, he was the biggest name I’ve ever fought and beat. On top of that, he’s never been knocked not and not only in his MMA career but his boxing career.

"On top of it all, to do it in the devastating and dominating fashion like I did it. It was the greatest experience, after the (Brandon) Wolff fight and the (Mike) Swick fight everyone looked at me as a one hit wonder, and I made it my No. 1 goal to make it known that it wasn’t the case.” 

Saunders was successful in proving that he is not a one-hit wonder in the sport, but how can a fighter be considered as such when he has some 19 years of martial arts experience?

“What a lot of people don’t realize is I’ve done martial arts since I was 8 years old. I literally got a job at McDonalds to take Jeet Kune Do lessons when I was 14 just to get some striking and my fighting game started at a young age.”

Investing in such disciplines at such an early age has paid huge dividends for the American Top Team product, as he possesses some of the most exciting and lethal striking in the division.

“Everyone seems to like striking, including myself. It’s one of the most exciting parts of the sport, and at the end of the day that’s where every fight starts at so why not be really good at that.

"My striking is unorthodox, I switch from southpaw to orthodox and I feel very comfortable in both. On top of that, being as tall as I am it makes me a hard opponent to train for.

"You have to get in my range and that means you got to get through kicking range, punching, elbow, and knee range. If you do that, then you’re in my wrestling and jiujitsu range.”

Saunders’ striking credentials are well known, but don’t mistake the welterweight as a one-dimensional fighter, as he has earned a huge accomplishment in another discipline as well.

“I’m a brown belt in jiujitsu under Ricardo Liborio, and that actually means something. Not only in the MMA game, but in jiujistu in general. It’s a huge honor to get that and I find it to be a huge accomplishment.

"I believe that he will be going for the takedown and if he does accomplish that, I’m very comfortable off my back. People will either see a submission, sweep, or me stand right back up.”

His opponent, Ellenberger, is fresh off an impressive TKO victory over Mike Pyle at UFC 108 and has 16 more fights under his belt. However, Saunders believes the continuous improvements in his game and his style will match up just perfectly.

“I think it’s a great style match-up for me. I created my style specifically to be comfortable with anybody it doesn’t matter what your style or strengths are. I don’t believe I’ve fought anyone that’s completely fooled me anywhere.

"I’ve spent years training and preparing to be a professional fighter. Once I did become a professional and had my first pro fight, I already had years of experience from the beginning,” Saunders said.

“Since the ultimate fighter, I’ve been able to quit my job and become a full time fighter and dedicate every single day to getting better. I’ve improved drastically since then, and I still to this date keep improving tremendously.

"He’s heavy-handed and most of his TKO’s are ground and pound not standup, but there’s no doubt he’s heavy-handed. I don’t believe that’s he’s a better striker than me, though. I think I’m better pretty much everywhere.”

Having such a well-rounded style can be a terror to opponents when trying to locate training partners to emulate your Octagon foe. Ellenberger may have success in doing so, but Saunders is confident that he is too difficult to prepare for.

“You can bring people in who are my size, reach and length, but they ain’t going to be able to emulate me. I’m also southpaw and orthodox, I’m able to switch it off and not a lot of people are able to do that.

"There’s no way that Marcus Davis just didn’t have a clue to what he was getting himself into. He either completely underestimated me, which I don’t believe was the factor or I think It was I’m just really hard to train for. Who knows he might not even have anyone close to emulating me.”

In training for his opponent, Saunders kept his training at the American Top Team school in Orlando, Fla., and credits Paul Rodriguez for being his biggest influence.

“I train with the guys here in Orlando and I also go train at the main facility. There’s a lot of guys that have yet to break through, and I think I have a phenomenal team to work with. I can honestly say Paul Rodriguez has been the biggest influence on me. He is the owner and my coach.

"He’s also a black belt under (Ricardo) Liborio, and he’s really just taken the time for me. Every time I’ve got a fight we have game plans, every position we go in I have go to moves and transitions. He deserves all the credit and props in the world.”

With that being said, only time can tell and the verdict will fall Saturday night at the Prudential Center in what is expected to be one of the largest events of 2010. What exactly does it mean for the American Top Team fighter to be part of such an event?

“It’s huge, every fight I go into I see as the biggest fight of my career. This one in particular there’s a lot of things involved in this fight. The sport is just so brand new and it blows my mind that I’ve already been apart of history: the first ever event in Germany and being on TUF 6, that’s a part of history," Saunders says.

"With this being in Jersey they’re without a doubt trying to make this one of the greatest cards of the year because they’re trying to get sanctioned in New York. They have a lot of marketing and promoting in New York for this fight and in Jersey to get them to realize that you guys really should get on board.

"Right now, Jersey is getting all of the attention and on top of that we’re going to be live in HD in theaters that’s insane. I can’t wait and I’m looking forward to putting on a show.”

*Since this Interview released, news broke that Saunder's Teammate Thiago Alves did not pass his CT Scan for his bout against Jon Fitch. With that, Saunders stepped up and is now fighting Fitch for what many consider to be for number one contender.