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.