Joe Ellenberger (L) has never lost an MMA fight

Joe Ellenberger is undefeated in and out of the cage.

Starting his career in 2005, Ellenberger and his twin brother, UFC welterweight contender Jake Ellenberger, both won their inaugural fights at the same event, via the same finish: TKO by punches.

Following up that victory, Joe Ellenberger has compiled an impressive 12-0 record and is on his way to getting back the title that he never technically lost.

On Friday Ellenberger takes the next step at VFC 36, which takes place at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

“I’m fighting for the VFC 155-pound title against a fighter from the Grudge Training Center.  His name is Justin Salas,” Ellenberger explained to Rear Naked Choke Radio on the MMADieHards Radio Network.  “He’s pretty good, wrestled in college and works with great coaches.  He’s really well-rounded, but he’s coming into some hostile territory.”

The gauntlet that Ellenberger had to endure in order to climb his way back into the cage would have finished most fighters.

Shortly after his 10th win in a row, the Nebraskan learned that he had contracted a rare blood disorder, PNH (paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria), a disease that causes bone marrow to produce red and white blood cells without a certain protein code. Because they are lacking this protein, the body targets the cells as if they are bacteria and destroys them.

Not knowing anything about the disease, Ellenberger quickly had to put his professional fight career on the shelf and prepare to fight for his life.

“It really started out as one of those things in my mind when I heard what the doctor said, ‘Your blood count is all messed up,’ ” Ellenberger said.  ”And I’m thinking, ‘OK, give me a pill, give me a week off, then I’m back at it.’

“Then it was not only can you not compete, but you’re going to be fighting for your life and to be able to live a little longer then this diagnosis expects.   It really changed my outlook on life.”

While there is no known cure today for this bodily anomaly, doctors continue to research the condition in hopes of further advancements.

“The only people that have been cured, it was through a natural thing where your body recognizes that your bone marrow is bad and replaces it with new P cells,” he explained.

Currently, Ellenberger has to take intravenous treatments every 14 days to calm the effects of the PNH.

With Ellenberger taking a new drug, a major concern was with how the different athletic commissions would accept the treatment.  When trying out for a previous season of of The Ultimate Fighter reality show, Ellenberger was obligated to pass all medical exams and blood work.

“Thus far, and I’ve been on the drug since March 2010,” said Ellenberger.  “I haven’t had any blip at all or anything go up for concern.  Most of the commissions aren’t really educated with what I have.  I was cleared to fight in Nevada for The Ultimate Fighter 170-pound tryouts and made it through all the medicals.”

Once all testing was passed, Ellenberger got the lift he needed from the doctor to further push him back into contention.  Doctors confirmed that there was no reason why the Nevada Athletic Commission would keep him from competition.

Hearing the news, Ellenberger quickly jumped into the local circuit and began the ride back to the top.

“For me, that was really encouraging at the time and really jump-started me to be able to come and compete at the local circuit here with Nebraska and Iowa commissions,” Ellenberger said.  ”Most of these commissions fall in line with Nevada, California or (New) Jersey.”

Making adjustments to nutrition and diet, Ellenberger was sure to fight back against the PNH anyway that he could.

“Now that I have this issue,” Ellenberger said,  “I want to make sure that I have everything in line and I’m using my body as efficiently as possible, because some of the time my body isn’t going to run as great as somebody else’s.  So I have to make sure that that I’m promoting the utmost efficiency for all of it.”

In the gym, the brothers feed off each other and have a training relationship that can’t be mimicked.  Jake is quick to refer to Joe as a bad ass when it comes to training, but the modest VFC contender shot down the accolades.

“I definitely think that with us being twin brothers there’s always that piece to the puzzle where we can push each other a little bit farther, a little bit harder than other coaches or other people tend to go because they don’t have that bond,” Joe Ellenberger admitted.

If the older brother of the twins – Joe by a minute – can put together a win at the Mid-America Center he may be squarely back in the sights of the UFC to possibly join his brother in the premier organization.

“It’s just got to fall in line with what they want to do,” said Ellenberger.  “Obviously, with my brother making big waves, it is a big help and never hurts to have some other guys on my behalf.  My goal the entire time anyways was to work my way to the top.”

Still undeterred outside the cage, Joe Ellenberger is a good bet to remain unbeaten inside.