The week of WSOF 20 earlier this year was a very interesting experience for Jesse McElligott. He went from being off the card, to being back on the card as the first fight of the night, and ended up being promoted to the main event on weigh-in day.
Initially, McElligott (5-2) was supposed to take on Pat Walsh at WSOF 20. However, Walsh was still on suspension from the Colorado commission and the fight was canceled.
On the week of the fight, one of McElligott’s teammates had to pull out of the event and the WSOF tabbed McElligott as his replacement. Then on weigh-in day, Ronny Markes was pulled from the event and McElligott got a potential career changing opportunity as he was asked to face David Branch in the light heavyweight tournament semifinal.
He would end up taking that fight against Branch, but it did not go well for McElligott. He would end up being submitted by Branch and while no one wants to lose, McElligott looks at the positives of the experience.
“I immediately felt my skill set and everything got better after the fight once I got back to training,” McElligott recently told The MMA Report. “It was an amazing experience with being on such a high level and against a high level opponent like Dave. Doing pretty good against him and seeing and reaffirming that I am pretty damn good. I am able to do some stuff against a world champion. After the fight, I was very happy with myself after the fight and it reassured my self belief after seeing how I did against him. Especially on such short notice.”
Fast forward a couple of months and McElligott will be returning to the cage on Friday night at CES MMA 30 in Rhode Island where he will meet Walsh on the main card broadcast on AXS TV. He feels like everything is on the up side following the fight with Branch and plans to prove that on Friday night against Walsh.
“I’ve been building some good momentum since last August, since my win in Victory last year. Building some momentum and I feel like that fight gave me a huge push over the edge. I just feel that everything is better now. It gave me a whole new burst. Everything is on the up swing. Even thought I lost, I learned a lot. I learned more from that fight than the fight before that were I won. I am ready. I am ready to do this.”
McElligott knows that he is facing a good wrestler and knows he will be coming to win this fight. He is ready to Walsh to attempt to take him to the ground and punch him in the face. However, McElligott feels that he is just a better fighter.
“I feel like I have a better game overall everywhere. I am just ready. Where ever the goes, I’m ready. Whether it’s standing on the feet for three rounds, whether it’s on the ground, or if it’s everywhere. I am very confident in all facets of my game.”