Jake Shields Keeping His Options Open as He Becomes a Free Agent After April 17
by Anton Tabuena on Mar 18, 2010 10:24 PM EDT
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Gegard Mousasi, who becomes a free agent after the April 17 CBS show, seems likely to sign a new contract and will balance fights between Strikeforce and DREAM. But unlike his fellow Strikeforce champion, Jake Shields isn't bound under a 'Championship Clause' and will be keeping his options open regardless of the outcome of his title fight against Dan Henderson:
"I am happy with Strikeforce. They've given me big fights like I asked for, so I'm happy with them. But also, I do want big fights, and of course the UFC has a lot of big fights as well."
"I wanted to be a free agent, I haven't been a free agent in a couple of years, and I wanted the option of leaving Strikeforce. Not that I'm leaving Strikeforce; I just wanted the option... Right now, I can't really talk to other shows. It's in the contract. You can't talk any business. So I just want to be in a situation where I can look at my options and figure it out from there."
"I like Strikeforce, so as long as it's a good offer, and it looks like they're going to get some good opponents – I also want to fight top competition, so it's the combination of pay, exposure, and top competition. Those are the three things I'll make my decision off of."
Shields, who has openly said that he wanted a shot at UFC champ, Georges St. Pierre, says that money, exposure, and top competition will be the deciding factor. Sounds like the UFC would be a perfect fit.
Michael David Smith makes the case for it:
Shields is driven by the challenge of pushing himself in the cage, which is a big part of the reason that he's now fighting at middleweight. Other than his friend and training partner Nick Diaz, Strikeforce really doesn't have any welterweights who could challenge Shields. And for that matter, after Dan Henderson -- who will fight Shields in the main event of the April 17 CBS show -- Strikeforce really doesn't have any middleweights who are big challenges to Shields either.
In the UFC, Shields could find all kinds of challenging opponents. I'm sure he'd move back down to welterweight if he fought in the Octagon, and he'd get a top-notch opponent like Jon Fitch, Thiago Alves or Josh Koscheck right away. A win against one of those guys would likely lead to a title shot against Georges St. Pierre.
The UFC doesn't just have big fights, it has the biggest fights in the sport. With White already on the record as an admirer of Shields' talents, and with Shields hoping to test himself against the best, it makes a lot of sense for the Henderson bout to be Shields' last in Strikeforce, and for his next fight to be in the UFC.
HT: mmajunkie, mmafighting
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Give him GSP in something of a “super fight” (assuming he gets by Hardy). If Geroges takes that fight as well it’s the prefect time to move up as he really will have completely cleaned out the entire weight class.
by The Flying Gentleman on Mar 18, 2010 10:34 PM EDT reply actions
Hardly a super fight.
I get what you’re saying, but GSP vs. Shields would mean little to nothing to fans who only follow the UFC, and they have no footage to hype him up with for this hypothetical fight. Shields would probably need 2-3 fights before he got near GSP, something like Kampmann, P. Thiago, and Fitch.
Without pain, without sacrifice, we would have nothing.
by lowellthehammer on Mar 18, 2010 10:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Doesn't Shields train with the guys from AKA sometimes?
I know Shields is with Caesar Gracie camp but I thought he trained with Kos sometimes. I wonder if those guys would have a problem fighting each other.
Also keep in mind that Shields will be getting weekly exposure to casual UFC fans soon as Chuck’s jits coach on TUF.
by OZON3 on Mar 19, 2010 1:29 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Okay, say shields does sign with the UFC, who do you like to see him against for his first fight?
I personally would like to see him against Paulo Thiago first.
i feel like that fight would be a repeat of fitch vs. thiago… i’d rather see him vs. Kos because i think Kos would use his wrestling defensively to keep the fight standing and force shields out of his comfort element to sink or swim… if he swims, give him the shark.
by Austin Martin on Mar 18, 2010 10:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Fitch
Fitch would be a great first fight for Shields, but frankly I think it’s a crappy fight for Fitch, because I doubt Shields would let him just utilize his suffocating top control.
by Patrick John McGreevy on Mar 18, 2010 10:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Koscheck in his first fight?
Something tells me you just really want to see Shields KO’d.
Without pain, without sacrifice, we would have nothing.
by lowellthehammer on Mar 18, 2010 10:46 PM EDT up reply actions
If he beats Hendo is he should get an immediate titile shot, and he’ll deserve it.
- he’ll have won 13 fights in a row and in that stretch
- beaten UFC WWs Carlos Condit (#12), Paul Daley (#6), and Mike Pyle
- beaten former top WWs Nick Thompson and Dave Menne before their careers took a downward turn
- moved up to MW and beaten Yushin Okami at catchweght (#9),Robbie Lawler (#8,)Jason Miller, and now motherfucking Dan Henderson (#2)
- will have fought on CBS 4 times and will have just beaten Dan Henderson in the main event in front of millions.
Now I don’t think he has a shot in hell of beating Hendo, but if he does I think he’ll not only have proven himself a top MW but now I’m thinking GSP has got a challenger for the title of top WW in the world.
by John Nash on Mar 19, 2010 1:55 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
You know you’re right, but eegads I had no idea he beat Okami. A really small middleweight against a giant Middleweight. That must’ve looked crazy! I gotta see if I can find that fight online. Any suggestions? I always thought of Shields as an afterthought to top welters, but what you’ve described is someone who needs to be mentioned potentially in the top 3.
I do think that GSP takes him with ease, but you’re right in that he deserves an immediate title shot, especially if he beats Hendo. And who knows, I had Shields losing to Lawlor in a really big way.
No challenges at MW in Strikeforce, MDS? What about Jacare?
That being said, I’d prefer to see him in his natural weight class in the UFC. So many good matchups there.
http://www.twitter.com/TB_Money
exactly. Plus, Hendo is 75% to beat him silly
by Austin Martin on Mar 18, 2010 10:42 PM EDT up reply actions
he will not get an immediate title shot if he comes to the ufc
even if he beats hendo i dont think he gets an immediate shot better fighters than sheilds have come to the ufc and at needed one win to get a shot
I can see Shields fighting
Condit, Kampmann, or Serra as his first fight if any of them have strung a few wins together at that point…. Those are fights that are safe enough if he’s a true top WW. I think the matchups are interesting also because all three have good enough striking to test Shields on the feet, as well as good grappling ability.
I'm like PacMan fightin you silly kids... throw ya Hatton the ring, and get knocked outlike Ricky did.
lol.
Thats if the UFC wants to play the safer, but still credible route.
I'm like PacMan fightin you silly kids... throw ya Hatton the ring, and get knocked outlike Ricky did.
lol.
One thing that stands out with Shields is that he beat Paul “Semtex” Daley who has been looking great so far in the UFC Welterweight Division (and possibly in line for a Title shot if he beats Koscheck). However, I do feel that many of Shields’ recent fights and wins were against fighters who stylistically, Shields has the advantage over.
by chrisbboy82 on Mar 19, 2010 12:12 AM EDT up reply actions
daley recently and daley even a year ago seem like vastly different fighters
or just noone has taken him down in that long and his ground game really does still suck
i agree..
I think stylistically there are a LOT of harder fights for Shields.. I really think Shields is going to have a HARD time in the UFC… Guys like Alves, Fitch, and Koscheck are givens… But guys like Paulo Thiago, Kampmann, Condit, Ellenburger, Serra, etc can all grapple at high levels and also have enough striking to be at least a threat on the feet. He would probably be favored in most of those fights, but for some reason I just don’t see Jake as versatile enough to win consistently in the UFC.
Would he be top tier? Could very well be… but I’d have to see it first….
I'm like PacMan fightin you silly kids... throw ya Hatton the ring, and get knocked outlike Ricky did.
lol.
He’s already beaten Condit. And if he beats Hendo what WW wrestler is going to give him more dificulties than Hendo or Okami?
by John Nash on Mar 19, 2010 1:58 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Difference being
Dan is a Greco-Roman wrestler, most of the WW’s are Folkstyle. There’s a huge difference…
Isn’t Okami a freestyle wrestler? Can’t recall.
by John Nash on Mar 19, 2010 2:51 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I wonder if he ends up losing to henderson if that will nix a possible signing with the ufc. I would like to see him in the ufc against some top opponents to really see how good he is.
hed still get signed
cause SF would virtually have no welterweight division left only have diaz and hieron who are good but not top tier fighters
Dana's Karma - Sheilds will win
If Shields beats Dan Henderson in a weight Dan is coming down too and Jake is going up too, he’s a top-flight fighter. I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets one fight and then a title shot ala Anderson Silva . . . not to compare the two but the UFC WW division is light on challengers to GSP and Shields, if he beats Hendo, is just that.
Yeah...
The idea of an interesting fight between GSP and Shields hinges on one thing. Shields beating Hendo. Which is absolutely not gonna happen.
I guess it could be cool to watch Jake get beat up by a couple other UFC ww’s. He won’t make it close to GSP though.
I agree with you, but hope we do see Shields vs GSP. Many of us want to see GSP win a KO/TKO, as a departure from his new normal of ground and pound, round after round, and Shields will give us that.
"I'd love to be a Cheick Kongo looking brother that could actually move and do a lot of funky stuff - Jiu Jitsu, takedowns, kicks and stuff." - Jon Jones.
by outlander78 on Mar 18, 2010 11:45 PM EDT up reply actions
How screwed will Strikeforce be? If,
Shields beats Hendo, then signs in the UFC. Hendo is gonna be fine. But, what does Strikeforce do with the MW belt?
Would love to see Shields vs Hazelett!
If he sticks at higher weight, I would like to see him fight Marquardt.
Shields vs Mc Lovin
You know what? I think that would be a great first fight for Jake. A nice intro to the UFC. Jake should destroy him, like Daley did. But, interesting fight. It would be a great Jits match up. Shields by Stoppage.
I think Fitch would be his first fight. They have history where Shield tapped him in a grappling match, and a win over Fitch would legitimize him in the UFC fans eyes. How big of a contract he gets depends on his performance against Hendo. A win over Hendo, and UFC probably hooks him up with a hugh contract.
Jake Shields ain't gettin an immediate title shot in the UFC even if he beats Hendo.
"That's right I'm into hardcore crack, that's why my teeth are so bad"
He must. Hendo was the #1 contender a weight class above WW, if he beats Dan, every UFC WW should give way for a title shot. nottheface also gave you some credentials. Shields is an awesome fighter. He might be the #2 WW in the world right now, not fighting the UFC hurts his ranking, but who fucking cares.
I am. I think. I will. - Ayn Rand
If Shields miraculously doesn’t get his clock cleaned and actually wins, the UFC would be stupid not to put him in a title fight somewhere immediately upon signing him. They don’t have anyone better at WW and no one would have the name and interest that Shields would at MW.
dear tiny baby jesus,
Please let shields sign with the ufc. Amen
"When i get in there, in his face ,pressin the action,I'm RUFF NECKIN'EM,I'm throwin him around,I'm punchin him,hes punchin me, I'm eatin his shots and I'm Blastin him back in the face he's not goin to be able to handle it ." - Chris Leben on how his fight with Anderson Silva is gonna go.
by Rayce. on Mar 19, 2010 10:37 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
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