Jake Ellenberger wasn't supposed to be in the spotlight at UFC 129. He wasn't even really supposed to be on the card at all, but he changed the script when he stepped in for an injured Brian Foster against Sean Pierson and won the fight with a spectacular first round knockout.

"I've probably said that a few times that I wouldn't do it, that I wasn't going to take short notice fights,' Pierson said. "I can't say that I won't again. If I'm training and it comes up again, I want the UFC to know they can rely on me. I'm always going to make weight; I'm always going to be ready to fight."

After the fight, Ellenberger stated that he is hopeful for a step up in competition.

"I'm just ready to face those top ten guys," Ellenberger said.

And to his credit, he's been trying.

Ellenberger was originally slated to face off against former title challenger and top tier welterweight Jon Fitch at UFC 126, but was removed from the fight in favor of BJ Penn. That fight ended in a draw and was scheduled for a rematch until Jon Fitch was injured during training.

Now, Ellenberger is stating that he'd like a fight with current welterweight contender Jake Shields

"If I could pick who I fight it would definitely be (Jake Shields)."

Despite Shields' recent loss to George St. Pierre, Ellenberger still feels like he is one of the top ten guys he needs to fight in order to truly evaluate his skills in one of the UFC's most stacked divisions.

However, it appears as though Ellenberger may be pushed aside again due to the twitter discussions between Jake Shields and BJ Penn.

Penn initiated the talk.

"I would never challenge one of Cesar Gracie's guys, but you've been calling me out for years," BJ Penn tweeted. "Let's do it! I'll contact Dana."

Shields seems to be agreeable to the with the match up and wanted to up the ante by making the contest the first 5-round non-title fight.

"Even better, let's make it the first 5 round non-title fight," Shields wrote.

With the attention this potential match up has been receiving, it's likely that Ellenberger will have to wait in line for a shot at Shields. So, what's left for Jake Ellenberger? The winner of his last four fights, three of which by stoppage, how much longer must he wait to truly test himself against the UFC's welterweight elite?