MMA Quick Quote: Jake Shields has a fight plan for Georges St. Pierre
by MMAmania.com on Apr 29, 2008 10:07 AM EDT
71 comments
"St. Pierre looks awesome. He's one of the fights that I'd really love to have right now. I need to make sure I look really good against my opponents; I want go out and dominate people so I can build some momentum for that fight.... He doesn't have a lot of weaknesses. He's going to be a tough guy to beat, because it's not like you can pick out one thing. To beat a guy like St. Pierre you have to be in phenomenal shape and keep the pressure on him. You've got to stay in his face, and if he takes you down, you better be ready to get back up and not just stay in guard and get manhandled like he's doing to people."
-- Jake Shields -- Elite XC welterweight and among the top 170-pound fighters in the world -- tells MMAWeekly.com about how he would approach a fight with UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre. Shields is set to battle Drew Fickett for the vacant Elite XC welterweight strap some time soon. In fact, the bout was scratched last month when Shields sustained a back injury during training, rescheduled for June 14 and now pushed back again, it appears, to July 26 -- the second show for the promotion on CBS "Saturday Night Fights."
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not in GSP’s league, fights in a sub standard promotion , on paper his game plan sounds great, i could devise the same plan, one problem is once you are getting manhandled in the cage all the strategic planning becomes just that, 1st round tear apart by GSP
by robd on Apr 29, 2008 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Don’t get manhandled and keep the pressure on your opponenet….. I think that’s the goal in every fight. I’ve never heard a fighter say that I am going to go out there, run away, and get totaly dominated. GSP would own Shields.
by James S on Apr 29, 2008 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Exactly,
GSP looks so much stronger than his opponents than he did in his earlier 20’s. There may be a fighter that can keep up that kind of pace for the 1st round, but GSP will wear them out by the end of the 1st and go on to dominate and end the fight in the 2nd.
by THORAZINE on Apr 29, 2008 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t know James, Kalib went out with the run away and get dominated plan.
by Getrawbc on Apr 29, 2008 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Great point Getrawbc, there’s always an exception.
by James S on Apr 29, 2008 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Funny how he had a chance to sign with the UFC instead he signs with Elite XC and now he talks about fighting GSP. When does he plan on doing that? 2009? Dana is not going to cross promote GSP and Jake Sheilds in a UFC/EliteXC event! If Jake wanted to fight GSP he should have signed with UFC, but no he was afraid he would lose to the top tier WW in the UFC, does he think when he signs with the UFC if that ever happens that Dana will give him an automatic title shot? NO! He will have to fight the likes of Karo, Fitch, KOS, Diego, Serra, Hughes and all the others to get to the top! I don’t see this fight happening anytime soon!
by GameFace on Apr 29, 2008 9:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I am sure he will be “manhandled” like the others.
by Jo on Apr 29, 2008 10:17 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The problem is that GSP will come in with a strategic game plan of his own… Jake Shields is an awesome fighter but if GSP handles Fitch I can’t see Shields being able to do much better.
by Oskarbravo on Apr 29, 2008 10:18 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Jake Shields is great. GSP is another level.
by UKmmaBOY on Apr 29, 2008 10:22 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Getting GSP off of you is much easier said than done. You think all the guys he’s faced stayed in their guard by choice? No, it was their only option.
by Pat on Apr 29, 2008 10:24 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Indeed…i think one of the major strengths of GSP when he is on top…is he is constantly working, he doesn’t give guys a chance to even think about trying to stand up, and it’s when other fighters try to scramble out from under him that he catches an arm bar or something!
He controls guys on the ground so well, and anytime they get slightly comfortable he switches his position and keeps them defensive….e.g. Matt Serra, I know it was a walk over whatever whatever, but the fact is Matt is one of the Best BJJ guys in the UFC, def in the WW division, and he had NO CHANCE on the floor!
by ToeLock on Apr 29, 2008 10:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed. His strength is a big part of it too. I mean, you see people get to their knees and are about to stand up, he just grabs a hold of one of your legs and forces you back on the ground. It’s almost like as long as he has a hold of you, you aren’t going anywhere. I just can’t wait for GSP’s next fight. I hope it isn’t much later than July/August.
by Shadyone33 on Apr 29, 2008 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Matts one of the best yet Karo laid a beating on him.And actually went the distance with gsp,and almost caught him in a kimura a couple times and swept him.
by Joe on Apr 29, 2008 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
GSP fought Karo four years ago. He was 22. If you don’t think there is a world of difference between the two fighters since then you are crazy. That fight ends in the second round if they have a rematch
by Mike C. on Apr 29, 2008 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
if he really wanted a piece of gsp he would have signed with the ufc instead of signing that extension with ex elite
by bryant on Apr 29, 2008 10:33 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Damn good point. You can’t warm up for GSP with low/mid level fighters, its like swimming your local pool then attempting an Atlantic crossing, bad move.
by Nick J on Apr 29, 2008 10:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree. I tried and Atlantic crossing once, but at the half way point I gave up and swam back.
by pacalis on Apr 29, 2008 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I give him alittle bit of credit he understands how good GSP is. and hes not saying shit like oh i can beat him up kcockhim out he has no mental game and all that shit
by Canadian crippler on Apr 29, 2008 10:45 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I know. I grow tired of the smack talk all the time. I was looking at old UFC DVD’s on the weekend and I saw Kos’ interview on the UFC 74 DVD where he predicted he’d knock GSP out in the first 2 minutes of the fight…hahahahahaha
by Shadyone33 on Apr 29, 2008 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
What I find funny is that no one ever gave GSP credit for his wrestling when he was fighting Hughes and now everyone’s talking about his manhandling like the striking went away.
Here’s my prediction, GSP will knock him out well before he decides to “manhandle” him.
by pacalis on Apr 29, 2008 10:46 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Hey at least he’s a decent fighter!! Who else are they going to give GSP?? BJ is the only guy who can and will beat him. Maybe Nick Diaz can bulk up take a beating for 4 rounds and then beat him, but I don’t see him leaving where the money is!!
by kevin on Apr 29, 2008 11:09 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I used to believe BJ would beat GSP in a re-match too, but some guy made a point that made me think:
BJ is almost unstoppable at LW, but if he competes at WW, he carries around extra fat which will slow him down just a bit, which could be enough to give someone like GSP an edge. BJ’s other choice is to come in at LW shape. But he will give up an even bigger size disadvantage to GSP, and that too could give GSP the edge.
by Pat on Apr 30, 2008 12:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
o hell yea! Shields could definitely give GSP some serious migrains. FOR REAL!! Go watch some of his film! He has the best chance @ knocking off GSP with his crisp standup, high energy GNP, top notch JiuJitz, basicly he’s a well rounded MFker. More people need to be talking about this sleeper dude. He’s an attacker, a finisher, and has high fight IQ. VICTIMS INCLUDE: Sakurai, Condit(170WECChamp-HELLO!!), Okami(UFC185#1Contender-HELLO!!), Verissimo(BJ’sSENSEI-HELLO!!)and tapped out Fitch(UFC170#1Contender-HELLO!!) at a Gracie Tourney. If Shields could neutralize GSP’s athelticism and keep putting pressure on him, it’ll be a DONE DEAL! He has more skills. To do that he needs to get stronger, but his mma roots are from wrestling anyways! After he bust through Ficket, he needs to stop messing around and get in GSPs grill… LIKE WAAAAT!! lol
by kama kaze on Apr 29, 2008 11:12 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I give him props for winning over Sakurai, Condit, and especially Okami. However, beating Charuto isn’t something to get all excited about. He’s a better teacher than fighter. Same with beating Fitch in a submission match. Fitch is not a submission specialist.
by Pat on Apr 29, 2008 11:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
he’s a beast, and in elite. If elite keeps paying and get the exposure, then UFC would have to PAY him some major money. Do you see Dana paying Jake sheilds “Brock Lesner” money? I don’t. It’s unfortunate too, but just a reality!
by kevin on Apr 29, 2008 11:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No doubt that Jake Sheilds is a beast and would probably do better against GSP than most UFC welterweights ranked in the UFC’s top 5, but I am getting sick of all the fighters not in the UFC talking about fights with UFC champions because unfortunatley we will never get to see half the fights talked about. Facts are that Sheild is signed to EliteXC and we all know that Dana wont cross promote with any other organization especially EliteXC, its biggest threat in the American Market. By now everyone knows the rules. If you are a UFC fighter, you can only fight in the UFC! I hate it but i have to accept it. So when top fighters like Sheild choose to sign with other organizations, they have to expect that they probably wont be able to prove themselves as the best in the world.
I am a huge fan of both Sheilds and GSP, but why would Jake even bring this up? Its not going to happen anytime soon. Didnt he recently re sign with EliteXC? As fans its bad enough we can only dream and speculate about big match ups like this, it doesnt help when the fighters start talking about it.
Dana did not budge for Fedor, he sure as hell aint gonna budge on his policies to let Sheilds fight GSP. So until Jake decides to take a pay cut, or agree to an exclusive contract, he wont get his chance to test/prove himself against the best in the world.
Its sad, but True!
by John on Apr 29, 2008 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
if Jake signs another elitexc long term contract, I’ll still root for him, but will never talk about him again.
by kama kaze on Apr 29, 2008 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Kama Kaze: I wasnt trying to knock you, I am a big Sheilds fan. I am just frustrated with the exclusive UFC contracts that are causing us fans to miss out on many dream bouts. When the UFC purchased Pride we all thought that we would all get to see the dream bouts we have been speculating over for years, that never happened!
We cant really consider Hendo vs. Rampage or Hendo vs. Silva DREAM fights because they could have easily have been booked in PRIDE.
Kama: Do you happen to know how many fights are left on his contract? I am not saying not to root for the guy, I will continue to root for him no matter where he fights, Its just frustrating when all the non UFC fighters bring it up because they no what the deal is….Sign with the UFC or fight the 2 or 3 legit fighters in your weight class in other organizations.
I hope Jake’s whole camp signs with the UFC sooner than later. jake, Nick Diaz, and Gilbert Melendez would all make an impact in their divisions in the UFC right away!
Kama: did you check out the highlite reel of cung le? I posted the link towards the top of this thread. I die hard fan like yourself is sure to enjoy it. Check it out if you haven’t already!
by john on Apr 29, 2008 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
john, o yea… u & i don’t take this blog stuff personal, we like arguing with the smart & crazy peoples, doesn’t matter. recently been trying to not hurt peoples ‘feelings’ though. lol
i find it weird that it seems like nobody even knows who Jake is. don’t know exactly how many fights he has left, from what I remember it was a 4 or 5 fight contract signed just before the Pyle fight.
I seen the cung le reel. it was hard core! dude got some moves! lol.
by kama kaze on Apr 29, 2008 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Kama: I really hope Diaz’s whole camp (sheilds, nick, gilbert) find there way to the UFC real soon. If Jake came to the UFC today, I would throw him in the top 5 right away at welterweight.
I enjoy bumping heads with u as well, nothing personal…just a good ol’ intelligent debate. Good stuff!
by john on Apr 29, 2008 7:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Shields standup is subpar. I don’t know what fights you’ve been watching. Shields has a great top BJJ game, but he can’t take GSP down, nor can he strike with GSP, nor is he as big and strong as GSP, nor is he athletic. That’s a bad matchup.
To Shields credit, however, he basically admits as much in this interview. His gameplan makes sense in theory, but in reality, it would be very hard for him to implement successfully.
by Hardcharger on Apr 29, 2008 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
u hit that right on the head, agree but its whoever makes that one mistake
by vise on Apr 29, 2008 6:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i could go on and on about Shields… how about a 9 fight win streak? That gets you a UFC title shot these days. His last 4 fights were FINISHES in the 1st round including turning Charuto’s face inside out. He hasn’t seen the 3rd round in 6 fights. lol. Fitch is a grappler, thats his bread and butter, similar style as GSP (these days) so tapping him out should count for something. If they don’t sign him, eventually he’ll lose (everybody does) and it’ll just turn into a shoulda woulda coulda scenario. DANA or JOE SILVA: GSP vs Shields is a sizzling matchup!!
by kama kaze on Apr 29, 2008 11:58 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
He tapped Fitch 3 years ago. Fitch was 2 years into his 5 years of BJJ. They were on different levels.
That said, I’m not taking anything away from Shields. He’s definitely one of the top WWs. I think he would have as much of a chance as anyone against GSP.
by TonyDrip on Apr 29, 2008 2:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Fitch tapped Burkman in ’06 so he must have been @ a decent level. Plus I find it amusing that Fitch lost his first fight to Pyle, who Shields recently dirshed. I know I know… different levels. no point intended.
by kama kaze on Apr 29, 2008 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, but that was after he beat the hell out of Burkman. It wasn’t like Burkman had top position and Fitch pulled out some crazy BJJ to turn it around. He pounded on Burkman until he gave up his back. Then he sank in a RNC….BJJ 101.
And yeah, the Pyle loss was before he moved to CA to start training with AKA….totally different fighter then than now.
by TonyDrip on Apr 29, 2008 6:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i think GSP is the best 170 pound for pound fighter in mma right now. there are alot of people who could give him a run but not alot of people who could beat him!Fitch will be a good matchup however gsp has better striking , groung game, and overall power against him. i think it will go out of the first round but there is no way it will go to decision. gsp by submission !
by Winner by Strikes! on Apr 29, 2008 12:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
LOL at fitch, he won’t last as loong as Serra did! BJ is the only guy that will beat GSP besides the weak mind of GSP!!
by kevin on Apr 29, 2008 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Is this some kind of built in excuse in case GSP loses? This isn’t the NBA or NHL playoffs, this is fighting. It comes down to one night in the cage. The winner is the winner, period.
I guess there is one exception…….if you’re Matt Hamill fighting Bisping in the UK..LOL!
by TonyDrip on Apr 29, 2008 3:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
How can you call him weak? He fought Serra when he was going through a tough time in his life, he’s a human being i’m sure if someone died in ur family and ur dad was sick it would affect you. Anyways he came back stronger than ever, dominated koscheck, embarrased hughes and put on a shellacking on Serra infront of his ppl in montreal, against the guy who took his belt and knocked him out. The most pressure he’s ever been under and he passed with flying colours. Someone who has a weak mind would have a hard time doing that.
by Casey on Apr 29, 2008 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Kevin, saying GSP has a weak mind is pointless. He raped the only 2 guys that ever beat him. If he can do that with a weak mind ,IT’S A GOOD THING. All fighters should have weak minds.
by Gord on Apr 30, 2008 12:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
There is no one in the WW division that has a realistic chance at taking out GSP if both are on top of their game.
Once the dust settles between GSP vs BJ Penn, I hope that GSP moves up to MW and tries his hand against bisping, okami, franklin, and hopefully silva.
by jerrolds on Apr 29, 2008 12:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I could say the same thing from the comfort of my couch. Planning is one thing, executing is another.
by DJ on Apr 29, 2008 12:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
shields looks a decent fighter but wouldnt fancy him against gsp fitch hughes koscheck etc
hes not going to fight top competition unless he signs for ufc
the way to beat GSP is to have wrestling at a level that he cant take you down which is far easier said than done and then outstrike him on the feet
with the way he dominated hughes and koscheck in takedowns i cant see who out there could outwrestle him
in my mind the only guy out there who stands a real chance rather than a “lucky punch” is BJ penn
i would love to see them fight again an in shape BJ Penn could give him a huge headache and is probably the only fight i wouldnt call GSP the favourite in
by slickric on Apr 29, 2008 1:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Mike Tyson said it best:
“Everybody’s got a plan until they get punched in the mouth”.
In the end, the UFC is NOT weak like the EliteXC. The fixed fights aren’t as obvious either ;-)
by Clint Lenard on Apr 29, 2008 1:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
GSP COULD HAVE 4 BOTTLES OF RED WINE AND STILL DESTROY SHIELDS
by KevinA. on Apr 29, 2008 1:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
What do you mean “still”? Wine bottles hurt! ;P
by Pat on Apr 29, 2008 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Uriah Faber could beat GSP. I would put down money on that.
by moustache on Apr 29, 2008 2:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
you would quickly lose your money – i would take it from you. that fight would not last more than a minute
faber is very good – we’ll see how he does against ‘lil evil’
gsp aint losing his belt anytime soon
by WADZ on Apr 29, 2008 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You know how much smaller Faber is than GSP right?
by Matt on Apr 29, 2008 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Faber is a 145lb fighter. while he is very, very good, GSP is a large (and great) 170lb fighter. I’d say 98 times out of 100, GSP defeats Faber. This is the main reason people drop down in weight, to avoid fighting guys bigger than them.
A good big man will defeat a good little man everytime, Moustache.
by gcw on Apr 29, 2008 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
100/100 times. Faber would look like those little dudes in Nacho Libre in the cage against GSP.
by Bob on Apr 29, 2008 10:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Faber trained in the same gym as Jake Shields (my gym). There was never any question of who was better Jake or Faber – everyone, even Faber would admit Jake is way too big for him.
As for GSP vs Shields, that is all speculation. But Shields does have the best chance at beating him due to his untouchable ground game. I hope it happens some day soon.
by Da Bomb Prediction on Jul 13, 2009 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
145lbs vs 170lbs faber awesome and my dude and all but let be real, he’ll get crush even if he’s tapping out blackbelts in jiu jitsu, only way if is way is submission
by vise on Apr 29, 2008 7:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
bj penn got rob the last time they fought by da judges
by vise on Apr 29, 2008 7:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
BJ LOST, plain and simple, get over it.
by Gord on Apr 30, 2008 12:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
everyone always talks about the ‘weak mind" of GSP. cause he lost one fight. he got caught, the same wayserra got caught with a spinning back fist…that makes him weakminded? he’s honest about his feeling before a fight, where as someone like hughes who thinks he is playing mind games with everyone gets his ass handed to him and no one questions his mind state. GSP just avenged a loss in his home town which happened to be the biggest crowd in ufc history. give the guy a break. his mind is fine.
by spankrock on Apr 29, 2008 9:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
spankrock, you definitly get it, where as many others don’t and just keep repeating “he’s weak” just because they heard some IDIOT say it. It seems pretty simple to understand, that with what GSP has accomplished, he would have to have a strong mind, yet some JUST DON’T GET IT. Your wasting your time trying to convince these guys. GSP could have 10 more wins in a row and they will still be bleating out “GSP HAS A WEAK MIND”,“GSP HAS A WEAK MIND”.
by Gord on Apr 30, 2008 12:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Just a cheap attempt to get a piece of GSP’s spot light, two words….Earn it!. some fighters talk as if fans are dumb and dont see the marketing side of thing.
by ro-J on Apr 30, 2008 1:45 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
if gsp won’t stand with serra, who will he with? He is scared of a ko now
by zane on Apr 30, 2008 3:42 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Nice try, make it sound like the fights already going to happen and hope that someone will be dumb enough schedule it. You arent in the same class buddy, give it a rest!
by AdamYves on Apr 30, 2008 6:36 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
GSP will crush Fitch (1st round ) and then will beat Anderson Silva ( nothing easy but still, Silva is one of the best at the moment ) in a catch weight fight… Best fighter of all time right there. Of course he didnt win all of his fight but now he’s without a doubt the best pound 4 pound in the world.
For me Shields vs GSP will never happen, anyway not in the same league.
by ElCapitan on May 28, 2008 2:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Scared of K.O. …not really Zane. He’s just a smart fighter and very versatile fighter. If you get K.O. and you get to fight the same guy again aren’t you gonna change your plan ? Look at Lidell vs Rampage, Chuck goes in with the same game plan in the second (ufc’cuz they have a fight in pride before )fight and got knock the f*** out again…
by ElCapitan on May 28, 2008 2:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
GSP WOULD POSSABLY KILL SHEILDS…. SHEILDS IS ALL GOING TOUGH GUY ON GSP CAUSE HE KNOWS THAT THE UFC DOESNT CROSS PROMOTE SO HE CAN TALK ANS SOUND ALL BIG AND TOUGH LIKE A LITTLE SCHOOL GIRL BITCH
by G.S.P.P4P.CHAMP!!! on Sep 11, 2008 2:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
GSP would destroy shields as matter fact so would Karo, Sanches, Koscheck, Alves, Sanchez, Swick the list could go on… I mean he has to fight some real competition
by Frank on Oct 4, 2008 10:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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