Jason "Mayhem" Miller: I'm Set to Face Jake Shields for the Strikeforce Interim Middleweight Championship

by Kid Nate on Aug 24, 2009 9:15 PM EDT in News Comment 61 comments

Jason "Mayhem" Miller posted to MyFightTea.com:

I'm set to take on Jake Sheilds for the middleweight championship of the world in Strikeforce.

MMA Junkie has some background:

Miller had been expected to face Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza at DREAM.11 on Oct. 6 to contest the Japanese-based organization's vacant middleweight title. DREAM recently released the fight poster for the event, and it did not feature the two fighters, fueling speculation that the anticipated bout had been scrapped.

The bout, which would surely be in jeopardy if the Shields contest is set, would be the third meeting between Miller and Souza.

Earlier this month, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker mentioned the possibility of an interim title fight involving Shields that would likely take place in October. The organization has yet to officially announce an event for that timeframe, though Coker said following the Aug. 15 "Carano vs. Cyborg" event that Strikeforce would hold several more cards before year's end.

The need for an interim title fight was necessitated by current middleweight champ Cung Le's current 17-month layoff, a break that as of yet has no definite end.

You have to wonder if Strikeforce poaching both Jacare and Miller from DREAM will put a strain on their relationship. Miller is a hugely marketable fighter and it's possible that, should he beat Shields, that he could emerge as a second viable headliner for the promotion along with Fedor Emelianenko.

Gina Carano was a very successful draw at their last event, but her loss to Cristiane Cyborg Santos has made it doubtful that Carano will be headlining at her next Strikeforce fight.

HT MMA Mania.

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i think all Gina needs is a win on an under card, and she will be ready to headline again.

Hello, Japan!

by Mr.Kib on Aug 24, 2009 5:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Is it poaching? Miller already had a Strikeforce contract, did he not? I remember him saying that the winner of his fight with Kala Hose was going to get one.

http://www.fourouncestofreedom.com

by Beer Monster on Aug 24, 2009 5:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Mayhem has always been tied to Strikeforce, correct.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Aug 24, 2009 5:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

"You have to wonder if Strikeforce poaching both Jacare and Miller from DREAM will put a strain on their relationship. "

exactly what i keep saying. who is strikeforce going to send over to japan? i can’t imagine showtime/cbs/m1/whomever approving a deal for any of the strikeforce champions to fight overseas. then what? diaz? wouldn’t consider someone who can’t pass a drug test, a favor.

by woooburn on Aug 24, 2009 5:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't think it's a raw deal

they’re probably sending Diaz over to fight Sakurai, and you never know, Fedor/ Overeem might happen in Japan on NYE, maybe broadcast on Showtime (under the guise of co-promotion).

Supporting all Las Vegas MMA. Xtreme Couture FTMFW.

'09 is the year of the FW's.

by ElliotMatheny on Aug 24, 2009 8:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

that’s a good point. hadn’t considering the broadcast rights. though with fedor’s pricetag, it might be a pretty hefty risk to broadcast one of his fights on tape delay, which’ll cut down on buys.

by woooburn on Aug 24, 2009 9:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You have to wonder if Strikeforce poaching both Jacare and Miller from DREAM will put a strain on their relationship. Miller is a hugely marketable fighter and it’s possible that, should he beat Shields, that he could emerge as a second viable headliner for the promotion along with Fedor Emelianenko.

Mayhem has always been tied to Strikeforce as an asset received from Pro Elite. No poaching goin on. The only one that could be in question is Jacare, but DREAM and Strikeforce have known abou these things for months now, and the alliance was just announced recently. Both promotions are working together and know what is going on. A fighter can currently fight in the US in Strikeforce or in Japan with DREAM if they are tied to both promotions.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Aug 24, 2009 5:58 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

It’s still going to cause some issues.

Wasn’t Dream trying to get Mayhem to fight for their MW belt? Him losing would screw that up, and even if he wins, there’s a good chance he won’t be able to fight at Dream 11 or 12. If he’s announcing the fight but has no date, he’s definitely not going ot be available to fight in Japan in october.

Sharing fighters seems like the best thing ever, but there are lots of issues involved with doing it.

by Phildo on Aug 24, 2009 6:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fights that happen outside of Japan play less of a role in Japanese matchmaking than you might expect.

It ends in an armbar or a strangle regardless.

by capital L on Aug 24, 2009 6:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I should add—“For better or for worse, fights that happen…”

It ends in an armbar or a strangle regardless.

by capital L on Aug 24, 2009 6:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That’s true, but there’s still the matter of it being hard for Mayhem to fight twice before the end of the year.

Dream wanted him, and now it’s going to be hard for them to get him. I guess if the SF show is in October or early November he can be ready for NYE, but he also might not need/want to do that since he’s getting a paycheck in the meantime.

by Phildo on Aug 24, 2009 6:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah there’s no denying that it complicates matters a great deal.

It ends in an armbar or a strangle regardless.

by capital L on Aug 24, 2009 6:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Which means organization and scheduling will be key. A co-promoted event simplifies everything, ad we will see one soon. =)

by MMASuPreMaCy on Aug 24, 2009 6:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

There’s still issues.

I know everything always gets a smileyface in your dreamworld, but it doesn’t work like that in reality.

by Phildo on Aug 24, 2009 7:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

come on phildo…co-promotion solves all of mma’s problems, and by solves of course I mean makes even more problems…

by Reaser16 on Aug 24, 2009 7:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

LOL

I know that already, plus a little more which means I can put a smiley face.
=)

by MMASuPreMaCy on Aug 24, 2009 8:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Co-promotion simplifying things? Really? Adding people into the equation always complicates things.

A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.

by iiowyn on Aug 25, 2009 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I predict mayhem.

Keep firing Assholes!

Romans, be it your duty to rule the nations with imperial sway … to impose the rule of peace, to spare the humbled and crush the proud.

by Ubernoober on Aug 24, 2009 6:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The most important point that everyone is missing is if Shields and Miller fight, what effect will that have on Bully Beatdown?

Keep firing Assholes!

Romans, be it your duty to rule the nations with imperial sway … to impose the rule of peace, to spare the humbled and crush the proud.

by Ubernoober on Aug 24, 2009 6:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

You beat me to the post

I have to wonder if this will put a strain on Shields being on “Bully Beatdown” again?

by chrisbboy82 on Aug 24, 2009 6:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

LOL…

Everyone knows that if you beat Mayhem, you become the host of Bully Beatdown, which is why Jacare was pissed the way the last fight ended.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Aug 24, 2009 6:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I can’t imagine they really will not be ‘friends’ after the bout. It seems that most of these guys are like ‘hey, its my job’ and as long as they are not assholes about it the fighters let it go. It might be a different story with someone like the Diaz brothers who are assholes that have to build up hate for their opponents, but for shields or miller they seem pretty cool so i can’t imagine it will be a problem. But if there is ANY danger at all of Bully Beatdown being threatened by this fight then they certainly have to stop it! =)

by mightyhokie on Aug 25, 2009 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I really, really don't like Miller...

so I am putting all my imaginary mental powers behind Shields on this one.

besides… there’s this!

by mythbuster on Aug 24, 2009 7:05 PM EDT reply actions 3 recs

I dont get why everyone on the internet is talking shit. Hes not gonna take me down, he dosent have better jujitsu than I do and he definatly cant kickbox like I can. Im gonna knock his ass out.

-Mayhem on sat radio today

by ryanwk628 on Aug 24, 2009 7:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

2 of my most hated fighter.

by Meshuggeth on Aug 24, 2009 7:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Both awesome ground guys, who do you give the grappling edge to?

by bubbafat on Aug 24, 2009 8:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Shields. It’s not even close.

http://www.fourouncestofreedom.com

by Beer Monster on Aug 24, 2009 8:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Haha

I lol’d at that.

Seriously though, Jake and Mayhem probably stalemate on the feet, and Shields probably outwrestles and outgrapples Miller FT (decision) W.

Supporting all Las Vegas MMA. Xtreme Couture FTMFW.

'09 is the year of the FW's.

by ElliotMatheny on Aug 24, 2009 8:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Uh no

Mayhem dominates Shields standing. Shields probably outwrestles Miller but isn’t able to sub him.

I definitely lean towards Mayhem in this fight. Shields is vastly overrated.

by rainmaker6 on Aug 24, 2009 10:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If by ‘Mayhem dominates Shields standing’ you mean ‘Mayhem sucks slightly less standing’ I agree.

Neither guy is capable of ‘dominating’ anyone on the feet. I pray your prediction is wrong, because if this fight stays on the feet it is going to be a sloppy mess. I would much prefer to see them in a Saku-Newton style grappling extravaganza.

by Steve4192 on Aug 25, 2009 8:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think Mayhem’s advantage on the feet outweighs any advantage shields has on the floor. The difference will be wrestling and I think Millers big enough top keep it competitive there. I think conditioning wins this very even fight.

YAMATO DAMASHII

by R.T. on Aug 24, 2009 10:49 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

^this

by rainmaker6 on Aug 24, 2009 10:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Kid Nate:

…he could emerge as a second viable headliner for the promotion along with Fedor Emelianenko.

I dunno, Most people know him as the guy from Bully Beatdown.

I don’t thinking using an MTV host as the face of your org is necessarily the best way to establish credibility.

by Shaun32887 on Aug 24, 2009 8:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Kinda like using a fake wrestling guy as the face of your mma org huh? Dude this is good for Strikeforce. Bully Beatdown has a lot of fans. I can see SF (if they’re smart) running ads for the fight during an episode of BB.

Mike Goldberg: "You know Joe, When Matt and his brother Mark Hughes were growing up, they would pound each other behind the barn."

by xFenixKnightx on Aug 24, 2009 8:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

...touche

I was largely unexposed to wrestling for the last few years. When I heard of Lesnar’s background, I was surprised to hear it was even still around, I honestly thought it had died off years ago. Because of that, I never had the knee jerk retch! reaction to WWE that most people have.

MTV on the other hand brings up memories of the idiots I went to high school with. That’s probably why I thought like that.

Still, I guess you have a point.

by Shaun32887 on Aug 24, 2009 9:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bully Beatdown is barely a blip even compared to Strikeforce.

A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.

by iiowyn on Aug 25, 2009 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Superior Wrestling + Superior Jiu Jitsu

Equals a win for Jake Shields. This is a less dangerous fight than the Lawler fight, although Mayhem will be tough to sub out. I still see Jake taking him down and controlling the fight, eventually getting the submission.

by IWillPartyHard on Aug 24, 2009 8:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Meh

I agree that Jake outwrestles and outgrapples Mayhem, but I don’t see him subbing Miller that easily. Hell, even Jacare couldn’t sub Mayhem, and Jacare’s a natural MW with a much higher grappling pedigree than Shields.

However, you can never discount Jake Shields sexiness scoring him the submission. Because let’s be honest, Jake Shields is a very handsome man.

Supporting all Las Vegas MMA. Xtreme Couture FTMFW.

'09 is the year of the FW's.

by ElliotMatheny on Aug 24, 2009 8:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You might be right. I’ve just been very impressed with Shields MMA submissions. Either way I think he takes the win by putting Mayhem on his back and punishing him there.

by IWillPartyHard on Aug 24, 2009 10:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Shields is not going to submit Mayhem

Control him on the ground? Yes. But after watching the first Jacare-Mayhem fight, I don’t really see anyone tapping Miller

by Scott Haber on Aug 24, 2009 9:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maia!

by Shaun32887 on Aug 24, 2009 9:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It’s time… for a beatdown.

This fight got made faster than I thought it would. Cool beans.

Mike Goldberg: "You know Joe, When Matt and his brother Mark Hughes were growing up, they would pound each other behind the barn."

by xFenixKnightx on Aug 24, 2009 8:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Great for Strikeforce

Miller has huge crossover potential because of his show. Shields is like a metrosexual Carano. It should also be a great fight. Looking forward to it.

by cyke on Aug 24, 2009 8:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Shields has been on Bully Beatdown and is going to be on it again so people should recognze his face from that and CBS.

Mike Goldberg: "You know Joe, When Matt and his brother Mark Hughes were growing up, they would pound each other behind the barn."

by xFenixKnightx on Aug 24, 2009 9:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Mayhem via ADHD

"He built his whole reputation (as a) waffle house chef. They've been serving him up ham and eggs with a side of canned tomatoes." - Don Frye on Fedor Emelianenko

by Deo Wade on Aug 24, 2009 9:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I’m set to take on Jake Sheilds for the middleweight championship of ~~the world in~~ Strikeforce.

…much better

Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

by Brent Brookhouse on Aug 24, 2009 9:28 PM EDT reply actions 5 recs

Anderson Silva should fight whoever wins this one if he wants to keep his #1 ranking.

Keep firing Assholes!

Romans, be it your duty to rule the nations with imperial sway … to impose the rule of peace, to spare the humbled and crush the proud.

by Ubernoober on Aug 24, 2009 9:46 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

the ufc wont copromote. Besides, he is gunning for the Roy Jones Jr fight.

by ryanwk628 on Aug 24, 2009 10:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

WOOSH

by woooburn on Aug 24, 2009 11:08 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Miles of clearance on that one.

It ends in an armbar or a strangle regardless.

by capital L on Aug 25, 2009 1:01 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I guess my sarcasm dosent come through when talking about the ufc and copromotion.

by ryanwk628 on Aug 25, 2009 8:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

this video will demonstrait me level of seriousness

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Tyc3Zjp25g

by ryanwk628 on Aug 25, 2009 8:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

nate, typo..

MyFightTeam.com

this is a good fight, but i still want to see him fight Jacare.. maybe after.. then mayhem has a chance to win two belts.. Shields might be smaller than him, and he must have a better stand-up game, so he has a pretty decent chance.

weoweoweo .deviantart .com -- @antontabuena

by Anton Tabuena on Aug 24, 2009 10:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Mayhem wins this

hands down.

Ok maybe not hands down. But I definitely see him as the favourite in this fight. I really don’t understand why people think Jake Shields is ttthhhaattt good. He’s got good jits but I don’t think his jits is on the caliber of Jacare or Palhares (don’t even mention Maia).

Mayhem isn’t going to get subbed. If he loses it’s by being on the bottom for too long. Not going to happen. Mayhem is bigger so Shields is going to have a tough time controlling him. I go with Mayhem by decision.

by rainmaker6 on Aug 24, 2009 10:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Mayhem Miller is no Yushin Okami in the size or wrestling department, and Shields took him down and controlled him for 15 minutes. Shields takedown and control game is fantastic, particularly his control. You almost never see anyone get up from underneath that guy.

Mayhem is incredibly over-rated because of his super-sized personality. Shields will take him down and ride him like a pony.

by Steve4192 on Aug 25, 2009 8:12 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

Mayhem is incredibly over-rated because of his super-sized personality. Shields will take him down and ride him like a pony.

by mythbuster on Aug 25, 2009 9:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Mayhem is dick-ish but highly UNDERrated. He won’t get subbed by Shmake Shmields. Like Rain said, if he loses, it’ll be by getting outwrestled and laid on.

by judonerd on Aug 25, 2009 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

or he’ll have another ‘i need attention’ fit and get kicked off the plane and won’t make the fight.

http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2009/6/9/903820/jason-mayhem-miller-kicked-off-a

by mythbuster on Aug 25, 2009 10:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hahahahaha!

“I’m set to take on Jake Sheilds for the middleweight championship of the world in Strikeforce.”

Of the world! That’s rich. Mayhem the merry prankster strikes again.

Si Hoc Legere Scis Nimium Eruditionis Habes

by Paynuss on Aug 25, 2009 12:30 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

ADCC winner Jacare couldn't sub Mayhem

How the hell is Shields going to? Mayhem is going to shrug him off and kick him in the face repeatedly. If anything, he’ll lose by DQ after pulling a Wanderlei again.

by judonerd on Aug 25, 2009 10:39 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Jake has adapted his BJJ to MMA better than Jacare. Jacare’s obviously on of the best in the world in sport BJJ (and Shields’ credentials aren’t too shabby either), but Jake’s just spent more time working on MMA BJJ than Jacare. I think he can finish Mayhem.

http://www.fourouncestofreedom.com

by Beer Monster on Aug 25, 2009 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs