Joe Ellenberger Inks 4-Fight Deal, Joins Twin Brother Jake Ellenberger in UFC

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Lightweight talent Joe Ellenberger has joined twin brother Jake Ellenberger as a member of the Ultimate Fighting Championship roster.

Ellenberger recently announced the news via Twitter, revealing that he signed a four-fight deal with the Las Vegas-based promotion. No debut date has been set for the 28-year-old.

A 15-fight pro, Ellenberger began his career in 2005, rattling off 10 consecutive victories before being diagnosed with a rare blood disease -- paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria -- that kept him sidelined from July 2009 to May 2011 and forced him to decline an opportunity to compete in the Octagon.

After his condition improved with treatment, Ellenberger received medical clearance and returned to competition nearly three years ago, going 4-1 in his last five fights. “Excalibur” posted two victories in 2012 but has not competed since December of that year, when he finished Strikeforce alum Joe Wilk under the Victory Fighting Championship banner. The former NCAA Division II All-American wrestler owns 12 of his 14 victories by stoppage and has suffered just a single setback in the cage, falling to ex-UFC talent Justin Salas in October 2011.