Dana White: 'We had cut' Jake Ellenberger before his UFC 201 win vs. Matt Brown

Normally when a fighter goes on a 1-5 losing run like Jake Ellenberger, that's grounds for a release from the promotion. In fact, according to Dana White in a post-fight interview with FS1,  that's exactly what the UFC did with "The Juggernaut" after his loss to Tarec Saffiedine. (Transcription via MMA Fighting)

"I didn't know what to expect from him," White said. "I said in the standup with [UFC commentator Joe] Rogan before the fights started, if he comes out and does what he's capable of doing, then this is going to be a very fun fight.

"With the UFC, we had cut him," White added. "He flew out to Las Vegas and he met with me and said, 'Don't cut me, please.' He said, 'Give me one more shot. I promise I will come out and deliver.'"

Ellenberger turned in one of the finest performances of his entire career, stopping Matt Brown with a vicious body kick in the opening round. He'd nearly put Brown away at the very beginning with a massive right hand that looked like the finishing blow within the first 20 seconds. Ellenberger is the first fighter to ever finish Brown with strikes, which is a phenomenal feat given how often "The Immortal" has been able to withstand punishment. That said, Brown's propensity to get hurt to the body has been his near-downfall in multiple fights, so perhaps it's fitting that it was a body kick that caused his first career TKO loss.

This win will surely reinsert Ellenberger back into the top 15 rankings at welterweight (Brown was at #9). Perhaps it's fitting that it came against Brown, because you may remember in 2010 that it was initially reported that Brown had been given his UFC walking papers after losing 3 straight, but the UFC later said he wasn't cut. Brown would win 8 of his next 9 fights, falling one fight short of a title shot.