Jake Shields returns to WW: Looking for a big fight

Jake Shields is returning to WW.  He's looking for a fight with a top contender.  He mentioned Jake Ellenberger, Condit and MacDonald.  

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1529891-jake-shields-returns-to-welterweight-targets-jake-ellenberger-or-carlos-condit?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=mma

I have a great match for him.  How about matching him with my boy, Jon Fitch!  Anybody up for a great grappling match?

Damn we need a polling mechanism here.  How much longer must we wait, Gregory!!!

* Edited at 02.15.2013, 7:24 PM ET *

Jake Shields already beat Martin Kampmann.

It was a ridiculously close fight though, Fightmetric had it scored as a draw. Many think Kampmann won.

I could see Jake Shields beating Nick Diaz too.

I personally thought Kampmann won, but it was ridiculously close.
And Diaz and Shields would most likely never fight.

Of course Diaz and Shields would never fight, but that wasn't the question. The question was which fighters in the top 10 can you picture Jake Shields beating and I could picture Jake Shields beating Nick Diaz.

Oh and by the way, the only judge of the Kampmann/Shields fight that scored it for Kampmann was...Cecil Peoples. I rest my case.

* Edited at 02.15.2013, 8:39 PM ET *

Okay so he could maybe beat Diaz, and fair enough ha but I think Kampmann as improved quite a bit since then and would be able to beat Shields if they were to fight again.

Really? I don't, when I look at his record since that Shields fight I actually don't think he improved one bit.

He lost a (very controversial) decision to Diego Sanchez, beat Rick Story, got his ass kicked for 3 rounds before Thiago Alves' brain died, got his ass kicked for one round before he caught Ellenberger and then ate an H-Bomb (yes I'm calling Hendricks' left the H-Bomb from now on, Henderson might knock people down each time it lands but Hendricks makes bodies fly...literally).

In my opinion Kampmann wouldn't do any better in a rematch.

Okay, actually fair enough I just went back and looked at some stats and it seems like pretty much everyone has been able to take Kampmann down so Shields would have a pretty good chance of taking him down a grinding out a decision but all Kampmann would really have to do is land one good shot and he would be able to put Shields away.

i like the matchup or give him the loser of condit and rory

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jake_Shields

I don't think Jake Shields is a bad match for Jon Fitch.  It would be a nice grappling battle.  Elite wrestling vs. Elite submissions.  I don't see Jake giving Jon too much trouble at all.

In his career, Shields owns victories over Carlos Condit (2006), Mike Pyle (2007), Paul Daley (2008), Robbie Lawler (2009), Dan Henderson (2010), Martin Kampmann (2010).  

Since coming to the UFC, he beat Kampmann and Akiyama, losing to GSP & Ellenberger.  He pissed hot after winning a UD over Ed Herman, and had his win thrown out.  No contest.

Any man that can beat Dan Henderson is deserving of respect, even though Henderson fought weak due to a brutal weight cut.

Today, I would give Jake Shields reasonable chances against Koscheck, Kampmann again, Maia & Ellenberger.  Jake won't fight his pal Nick Diaz, but I think Nick would probably beat him.

* Edited at 02.15.2013, 9:48 PM ET *

He'd probably win if he got to face Robbie Lawler again.
He beat Fitch at Fitch, in a grappling contest held in some gymnasium. I don't know if that would guarantee him a win, but to say Fitch would dominate him is insane.
I'd put him against Dan Hardy in a battle of guys who had no business fighting GSP, with the winner moving up to the meh leagues against Thiago Alves.

"Okay, actually fair enough I just went back and looked at some stats and it seems like pretty much everyone has been able to take Kampmann down so Shields would have a pretty good chance of taking him down a grinding out a decision but all Kampmann would really have to do is land one good shot and he would be able to put Shields away."

He landed two flush knee's like he did against Ellenberger and still never put a badly gassed Shields away.

Up and down, up and down ... the sign of a man who can't deal with the fact that he's just not as good as everyone used to say he is and accept his gatekeeper status.

He's not going to be top 5 in any division he goes to ... so pick one and stay there.

That being said, I do think that welterweight should be that one even though he gets beat by anyone in the top 5 and he can't fight Diaz, so that another top 5-er that can't serve as a possible stepping stone to another shot at the belt.

2-3 years of gatekeeper status and then retirement, that's what's left for shields ...

* Edited at 02.16.2013, 12:51 PM ET *

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jake_Shields

@yossgold  I think you're severely under-rating Jake Shields.  Sure he isn't as good as he was a while ago.  But he is not as bad as you're making him out to be, either.

What other WW could beat Dan Henderson?  What other WW looked better fighting GSP?  Jake made a mistake with steroids.  He's clearly adrift following the death of his father in August, 2011.  He struggling to pull his life and fighting career together.  But why kick a good man when he's down?

Why not wish him well and not give up on him? His wins over Kampmann and Akiyama are valid.  He is 34 and hopefully still has a couple of productive years left in him.  Why so harsh on a good man, yoss?

Would you be up for a fight between Jake and Fitch?  And if so, who would you root for?

* Edited at 02.17.2013, 3:54 PM ET *

@Bill I agree that Jake being underrated. He a dam good fighter, but to answer your questions about what welter weight looked better fighting GSP, I would say Condit by far. Also Jake got popped for steroids? I thought he got popped for something that is used to hide weed?

I think Fitch would beat Jake for sure in a 5 rounder. I think in a three rounder, it be close depending on what Shields showed up. The shield that fought Kampman would get beat down. However the one who fought Dan Henderson would be dangerous for Fitch simply because he larger then Fitch and may be able to use that size advantage to gain slight advantage grappling to edge out two rounds. However if you asking who better fighter, i say Fitch hands down. Shields is to much of a specialist.

* Edited at 02.17.2013, 4:01 PM ET *

@Franklin Yeah, you're right.  Condit did give him a much better fight than Jake.  I actually forgot about him.

I had assumed he was found guilty of steroids.  But his wikipedia page simply states this:

However, on October 12, 2012, it was announced that Jake Shields had failed his drug test at UFC 150 and he was subsequently fined and suspended.[19] The result of the fight was overturned to a No Contest.

http://www.mmajunkie.com/news/2012/10/colorado-commission-confirms-shields-suspension-ufc-150-win-changed-to-no-contest

He was fined $5,675 and suspended 6 months for testing positive for a banned substance.

http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Jake-Shields-Suspended-6-Months-for-Using-Banned-Substance-Prior-to-UFC-150-in-Denver-46439

Since Shields is a submission specialist and Fitch showed he is virtually unsubmitable, I think Fitch would win.  Just a personal prejudice.  I guess I'm back on the Fitch bandwagon.  

But at the same time, I don't think it's right to throw Shields under the bus.

* Edited at 02.17.2013, 4:45 PM ET *