Jake Ellenberger-Rory MacDonald Booked for UFC on Fox 8 in Seattle

---

Highly regarded welterweights Jake Ellenberger and Rory MacDonald will collide when the UFC returns to Seattle for UFC on Fox 8.

The July 27 event takes place at KeyArena and will also see Melvin Guillard face Mac Danzig in a lightweight duel. The evening’s main card airs live on Fox’s flagship network, while the prelims will be broadcast immediately prior on FX and Facebook. Canadian newspaper The Province initially reported the pairing, and UFC officials confirmed it shortly thereafter.

Ellenberger, 28, has won eight of his last nine fights, with only a 2012 defeat to Martin Kampmann marring his record in that span. “The Juggernaut” rides back-to-back victories heading into his showdown with MacDonald, kicking off 2013 with a March 16 knockout of former Strikeforce champion Nate Marquardt at UFC 158.

MacDonald, meanwhile, has tasted defeat just once, succumbing to a third-round rally from Carlos Condit in 2010. Following that setback, the 23-year-old Canadian posted four straight wins, besting Nate Diaz, Mike Pyle, Che Mills and B.J. Penn. “Ares” was then booked in a rematch with Condit at UFC 158 but was forced to withdraw from that contest due to injury.