Jake Shields to fight in the WW division of the UFC

DrPhilG

Not MW,
http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Trainer-Shields-Will-Debut-in-UFC-Welterweight-Division-25717

And Thiago Alves wants a piece.

http://www.ifight365.com/2010/07/thiago-alves-would-like-to-welcome-jake-shields-to-ufc/

The Freeman

hoepfully he will be a test for gsp

Odats

Hopefully a first fight against Kampmann then winner of Fitch & Alves and then onto GSP some time next year. Would be a good introduction fight for him.

DrPhilG

Shields vs Kampmann has to be the first fight. His camp say the deal is done with a "top contender". Kos is tied up with GSP, Hardy vs Condit, Alves vs Fitch. Kampmann is next on the list unless I'm forgetting someone obvious.

Now that is a fight that would brighten up UFC 120 considerably!

Tim_Murphy

OK I've only seen his fight with Henderson so somebody please tell him he is normally more exciting than that? Otherwise, what are people getting excited about?

unknown13

The only reason he was at MW in SF was that Nick Diaz was at WW, those two would have had to eventually fight, which would never happen

Fozzy

Tim_Murphy wrote: »

OK I've only seen his fight with Henderson so somebody please tell him he is normally more exciting than that? Otherwise, what are people getting excited about?

No, that is typical Jake Shields. He's unbeaten in nearly 15 fights now, I think it is, but I think that most UFC fighters with good takedown defence will beat him

DrPhilG

He has a rep for being dull but at WW he won 6 in a row at WW before moving to MW. 5 in the 1st round too.

Hail 2 Da Chimp

Tim_Murphy wrote: »

OK I've only seen his fight with Henderson so somebody please tell him he is normally more exciting than that? Otherwise, what are people getting excited about?

8 of his last 10 fights finished by either sub or TKO, so he can't be too bad...

I notice GSP changed his facebook status to post up Jake signing with UFC also.

bret69

Fighting Kampmann at UFC 121, same card as Brock v Velasquez

http://www.bjpenn.com/profiles/blogs/quick-twitt-jake-shields

DrPhilG

Would have loved to see this at 120, but smart marketing by the UFC. Casual UFC fans don't know who Shields is, but you can bet your ass that UFC 121 will do over a million PPV buys because Brock is on it so he'll get a wide introduction. They're obviously expecting him to beat Kampmann though, hence the big intro so they can market him as an opponent for GSP.

Zero-Cool

Ja think he would have beating the Spider if he fought at MW?

Odats

Though first fight for Jake but should get through this then onto winner of Fitch Alvez then GSP I think.

unknown13

This is definitely set up for Shields to be next in line if he wins. GSP / Koscheck are fighting on the 11th of December according to Josh Koscheck

Fozzy

DrPhilG wrote: »

Would have loved to see this at 120, but smart marketing by the UFC. Casual UFC fans don't know who Shields is, but you can bet your ass that UFC 121 will do over a million PPV buys because Brock is on it so he'll get a wide introduction. They're obviously expecting him to beat Kampmann though, hence the big intro so they can market him as an opponent for GSP.

He's already been on four CBS shows between EXC and Strikeforce, that's more than any other fighter as best I can tell, so he shouldn't really be that unknown to most people considering that they were some of the highest viewed MMA events ever

He's not an exciting fighter though. Jon Fitch version 2. What if they put him in front of one of their biggest audiences on the next Brock PPV and he ends up having another boring fight and then nobody wants to see him fight GSP?

unknown13

Fozzy wrote: »

He's already been on four CBS shows between EXC and Strikeforce, that's more than any other fighter as best I can tell, so he shouldn't really be that unknown to most people considering that they were some of the highest viewed MMA events ever

He's not an exciting fighter though. Jon Fitch version 2. What if they put him in front of one of their biggest audiences on the next Brock PPV and he ends up having another boring fight and then nobody wants to see him fight GSP?

After GSP's last few performances, there getting a boring fight regardless with GSP.

Fozzy

unknown13 wrote: »

After GSP's last few performances, there getting a boring fight regardless with GSP.

To most people though, GSP is charismatic enough and such a big star that he can survive that. Watch Jake Shields get takedowns like GSP did on Thiago Alves and the crowd will not be cheering. Shields is like the polar opposite of GSP personality-wise

rovert

Dave Meltzer got raked over the coals by all quarters for these harsh comments:

They'd better match him with a good stand-up fighter with no takedown defense or submission defense. At least then you know the match will be over quickly. If not, there is a lesson already out there about putting him on live TV.

Honestly, the less they show of him the better. You showcase people to their strengths and hide their weaknesses. You look at that for every person and then expose them accordingly. Either a guy with no sub defense and takedown defense, or hide him on the undercards where nobody can see him except the local ticket buyers, preferably on a Vegas show where nobody shows up until late. Having people sleep through Jon Fitch fights does less to make them want to see him against GSP again. However, if they never saw those fights, and marketed a 15 fight winning streak and had people talk him up, they wouldn't know enough to not want to see him.

They should talk about his win streak, have other fighters talk about him, never air him on television (unless they sign Melvin Manhoef) and show him training. The thing is, GSP will get him over on promos but if people actually saw him fight, they won't believe GSP when he talks about what a threat he is.

Not a fan to say the least.

What's with the Jon Fitch hate?

rovert

Deleted User wrote: »

What's with the Jon Fitch hate?

A lot bloggers who are long time readers of Meltzer's newsletters (and my own opinion is the same) think that Dave believes that Field and Shields aren’t "Pro Wrestling" enough. As Zach Arnold puts it "Dave’s pro-wrestling and business sense here is the foundation for this logic" while David Bixenspan thinks "It seems like Dave is stuck in his "MMA and pro wrestling are exactly the same" mindset and is treating Shields like a poor worker who needs to be protected so he's not stinking up the joint." The term “worker” is a pro wrestling term for an exciting wrestler who generates fan interest.

Basically Dave thinks Fitch is boring and not entertaining enough as he puts fights on ice on the ground and doesn’t care for putting on exciting fights. Dave is a lot less tolerant of Sport than other journalists to a degree his idea of a good show is one that does a high rating or buyrate. Not to say he doesn’t understand the Sport of MMA just his brain is lopsided to numbers and revenue.

rovert

I didnt want to make a thread with the show so far away but Ortiz vs Hamill has been confirmed for the same event. Rooting for Hamill to beat his TUF coach here.

Cue some very angry posters who are going to UFC 120.

DrPhilG

rovert wrote: »

I didnt want to make a thread with the show so far away but Ortiz vs Hamill has been confirmed for the same event. Rooting for Hamill to beat his TUF coach here.

Cue some very angry posters who are going to UFC 120.

Have you seen the rumoured 121 card?

Lesnar vs Velasquez
Gonzaga vs Schaub
Tito vs Hamill
Shields vs Kampmann
Duffee vs Madsen
Sanchez vs Thiago
McGee vs Jensen
Cote vs Lawlor
Taylor vs Stout

That's a beast of a card. Surely it wouldn't kill them to move even 1 off that list to 120?

GaryW

DrPhilG wrote: »

Have you seen the rumoured 121 card?

Lesnar vs Velasquez
Gonzaga vs Schaub
Tito vs Hamill
Shields vs Kampmann
Duffee vs Madsen
Sanchez vs Thiago
McGee vs Jensen
Cote vs Lawlor
Taylor vs Stout

That's a beast of a card. Surely it wouldn't kill them to move even 1 off that list to 120?

Agree 100%, total disgrace.. Shafted yet again