Shields Finally Gets His Shot at Title
Top three ranked welterweight in the world Jake Shields proved he could compete with top middleweights as well, when he went up a weight class and defeated former EliteXC 185-pound titleholder “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler at a 182-pound catchweight in his Strikeforce debut on June 6. He defeated the former champion by guillotine choke in the first round.
Shields fights for the vacant Strikeforce middleweight title on Nov. 7 at the Sears Centre in Chicago against Jason “Mayhem” Miller, and the 30-year-old fighter is anticipating a tough fight.
“I think me and Mayhem match up for a nice and exciting fight,” Shields told MMAWeekly.com.
“I think he’s an extremely talented fighter. He’s got a little size on me, and he’s extremely well-rounded,” added the Cesar Gracie trained combatant. “He can fight from anywhere and he always comes in shape.”
Neither is hesitant to stand, but their bread and butter is on the ground. Shields believes his wrestling will come into play, but thinks Miller’s wrestling is underrated.
“Being ground fighters, being on top in MMA is usually an advantage. Wrestling would definitely be an advantage, but I feel Mayhem has a little bit underestimated wrestling,” stated the Californian. “His wrestling is actually pretty good. I think he’s definitely capable of taking me down and I think I’m definitely capable of standing with him too, so this fight could take place anywhere.”
The striking aspect is not Shields’ strong suit, but “Mayhem” Miller isn’t exactly known for his kickboxing skills either. Shields is confident in his stand-up ability, but isn’t out to prove the critics wrong if it means risking defeat.
“I spar with the best fighters in the world no problem, but people want to bash my stand-up,” said Shields. “I’m not going to let (the criticism) force me to play into someone else’s game to try and prove myself.
“I think my stand-up is way underrated, but I’m not going to try to prove something to show these idiots that I can stand.”
It’s his ground game that’s gotten Shields where his mixed martial arts career, and he knows where his strengths lie.
“My grappling is my strongest point. I work my stand up all the time. I knockout people all the time in training, but that’s training,” commented the middleweight contender. “I figure I’ll save the stand-up for when I need it and work to put it toward the ground and play to my strength. There’s no reason for me to try to prove anything to show anyone. I’ll stand-up when I need it, but the ground is my strength.”
The two have actually trained together in the past, and are very familiar with each other’s game.
“We trained a couple of times together. It was one of those things where it was nonstop transitioning from one move to the next on the ground,” said Shields. “Hopefully we’ll have that kind of fight out there.”
