Omaha native Jake Ellenberger returns to his hometown Feb. 15 for a UFC fight with Diego Sanchez. Get a behind-the-scenes look at his fight preparations on Omaha.com with trainer Riley Ross in the lead-up to the fight. Ross is the founder of Higher Tactics Treigning Systems, where he serves as a sports nutrition and performance specialist. He is also the Director of Personal Fitness Training at Vatterott College in Omaha.

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Nearly three years ago, Jake Ellenberger suffered his only UFC loss to now-interim champion Carlos Condit in a split decision.

Jake knocked him down three times in the first round, but Condit — a former WEC champion — fought back in the second. Before the third round of his UFC debut, the underdog sat and thought about how his body reeled from the fight’s breakneck pace. Jake endured the final five minutes before losing a split decision.

He vowed he would never again feel so drained late in a fight.

Jake called me two weeks later, asking for help to give his body the best chance to wrap up a victory. Which is why Jake walks into the gym at 6 a.m. Thursday with a big jug of water, ready to train. Twin brother Joe, who is training alongside Jake for an upcoming fight, arrived minutes earlier with a hot mug of preworkout tea.

Neither fighter would be considered a morning person, so the sacrifice of an early strength-and-conditioning session is a testament to their determination and discipline.

In our final training sessions leading up to Wednesday’s fight with Diego Sanchez, the focus becomes more intense.

I worked Jake through Lactic Acid Training sessions — commonly called LATs — with the goal of improving the body’s response to exhaustion by putting it in near-exhaustive states repeatedly during the course of a 15- to 25-minute span. I use a heart-rate monitor and a whiteboard to chart his response and recovery. He jumps between the rowing machine and VersaClimber sprints that last up to two minutes with minimal rest in between. The pace is wretched. The body whines. But one must become familiar with the uncomfortable effects of the workout — the same feelings one needs to be able to handle in a fight.

Six days from the fight, Joe and Jake work together to push Thursday’s session to a new level, starting with a postural strengthening portion and then speed and explosion drills that mimic boxing motions. Just like oxen pulling a carriage, the twins pull at each other’s competitive harnesses. After 15 minutes of excruciating pain, Jake steps off the rowing machine, both hands held high in a gesture of success.

In Jake’s mind, he’s one day closer to even greater success in the ring.