Jake Shields: 'Im willing to move up in weight' to fight Robbie Lawler

by James Iannotti on Oct 6, 2008 9:23 AM EDT Comment 30 comments

"I don't know. I got to talk to Elite XC and find out. Like I said, I'm willing to move up in weight. I think if I moved up in weight and fought somebody like Robbie Lawler, with his caliber I think that fight would give me a lot of respect. Because right now there's some good fighters out there, but a lot of the good 170 pounders aren't huge names. They might be really tough, but if they're not the huge name, it doesn't really help my career."

Elite XC Welterweight Champion Jake Shields mentions that he doesn't know who his next opponent will be, but that he's willing to move up to fight Elite XC Middleweight Champion Robbie Lawler if the promotion would allow it. There was talk of Shields fighting Matt Lindland at the now canceled Affliction: "Day of Reckoning" event this month, so he's already been considering floating around at different weights. A champion vs. champion fight against Robbie Lawler would no doubt be a very competitive fight. Jake has won his last 11 fights in a row, including a submission over Paul "Semtex" Daley at "Heat." And Elite XC is running out of quality welterweights to throw at him. A shot at Lawler might not be a bad idea for a future fight. "Ruthless," however, would likely need to defeat Joey Villasenor on November 8 for that to happen.

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Since there obviously aren’t any WW’s outside of the UFC that can give Jake a fight, since he signed a deal with Elite, moving up in weight could be his only option if he wants to keep progressing.

Jake is not dumb and he would know that he can’t stand and trade punch for punch with Lawler. But Jake’s top notch wresting skills would prove to be enough to take Lawler down. Robbie is by no means known for his guard, and Jake made his name from his submission wrestling-Cesar Gracie BJJ.

I would think that Jake wins this fight about 80% of the time. The only times I would see him losing is if he couldn’t get the takedowns in the early rounds, started to get fatigued and his shots would be telegraphed which could lead to a big punch by Lawler. I would think that since Shields is coming up in weight that he wouldn’t be a big favorite at all. I can’t imagine him being an underdog, but I would bet on Jake no doubt about it.

by ViolentMike on Oct 6, 2008 9:38 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Thoughts on EliteXC:

Rua should have attempted to take Radach to the ground alot earlier in the fight. I was impressed with Radach’s power and Rua’s heart.

Shields and Daley did not impress me. Sorry, I just don’t see it.

Kobold’s face abused Gina’s fists and knees. BTW – Did Kobold look stoned or was it just me?

Kimbo, don’t let the door hit you on the rear on your way out. Your 15 minutes are OVER.

UFC PPV – After watching it again with the mute button…

Griffin squeaked by Rampage 3 rounds to 2.

by OJR on Oct 6, 2008 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was treed watching EliteXc on Saturday..yeah Kobold..looked treed too.

by PhilQNY on Oct 6, 2008 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

CHECK THIS OUT:

Seth Petruzelli: My originial plan was to throw a lot of push kicks, they’re called teeps…have him think that I’m going to throw ‘em to try to rush in more, and then shoot in on him, obviously…I knew I would do alright standing up with him. The promoters kinda hinted to me, and they gave me the money to stand and trade with him. They didn’t want me to take him down. Let’s just put it that way. It was worth my while to try and stand up and punch with him.

Petruzelli says he was paid "in the six-figure range" for accepting the main event fight on Saturday and will be re-negotiating his contract for his next EliteXC fights

-cagepotato

by john on Oct 6, 2008 4:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

VM, i typed out a well thought out response but it didn’t post so i’ll sum it up. I think its a bad move for Jake, he’s got some clear holes in his game that he needs to sure up before he moves up and takes on bigger guys. The problems I see are his weak striking and a shallow gas tank. Trying to take Lawler down and failing could gas him out real quick.

by Crowls on Oct 6, 2008 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i agree crowls, i like jakes skills but he needs some improvement in areas before asking for that fight.

by roy on Oct 6, 2008 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

VM.. i don’t know how many times we gotta keep telling them about Jake. props to daley for making it out the 1st. not many people can say that. i haven’t seen lawler on the ground too much, but thats not really his forte anyways. its almost no competition at WW for jake. i see GSP giving jake trouble being that he can balance better on his hands than on his feet, has wrestling, gnp and bjj skills. how about ninja? or frank shammy? those guys got good ground games and could test Jake’s abilities possibly maybe kinda sorta.

by coach ed papavitch fka kama kaze on Oct 6, 2008 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i thought jake didn’t look that good, his stand up was weak gsp would kill him, on the ground daley did nothing just laid on his back and shields should have ended it in the first.i like jake but he needs to put on some muscle and work on his striking there is a good numbner of ww in the ufc that will beat him let alone gsp how would beat him at any postion in the fight.

by roy on Oct 6, 2008 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree. GSP would smash Jake.

by naturalshadow on Oct 6, 2008 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I hate Sheilds! U know why? because he is clearly a top 5 welterweight who signed with a company that has no decent welterweights! Now after each one of his lopsided wins I have to hear him call out fighters that he will probably NEVER get to fight! Jake, you want top opponents? Then you need to sign with the UFC. THere isnt anyone outside the UFC that is on his level, so he is wasting his prime fighting Cans (not Semtex who I rate Highly). Lets be honest, Forget all about Sheilds vs. Lawler because it WILL NEVER HAPPEN!!!!! El;iteXC has about 3 good welterweights and 4 good middleweights, no way they let Jake move up to face Lawler! I would like to see it happen, but I do not believe it ever will!

How many fights does he have left on his current contract?

by john on Oct 6, 2008 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

wuttup john1!! where u been? i think there was an imposter using your name. lol but however many fights he has, elite is NOT going to let him go so easily. doubt they’re going to put Shields Lawler together cuz of the fact it’ll lower 1 of their stock. as long as they keep testing him, he can reach Fedor legendary status with wins over stars like ninja, shammy, trigg, mahem. nobodys gonna complain about those. i think even mexicutioner will tune in. U KNOOOOW?!

by coach ed papavitch fka kama kaze on Oct 6, 2008 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You also forgot to mention you hate him because you lost money on Semtex.

by the_mexicutioner on Oct 6, 2008 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

His standup was very bad. I expected more considering he was calling out GSP. I say Lawler wins this one by KO or TKO.

by Mike Z. on Oct 6, 2008 9:53 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

GSP would destroy him in the first round.

by LJ on Oct 6, 2008 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was not impressed by his performance. GSP would tool him. I believe Lawler would make quick work of him too

by Lucas on Oct 6, 2008 9:57 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Lawler’s striking is on level close to Semtex, but Lawler is extremely well rounded. I put Robbie Lawler as one of the top five middle weights in the world.

by Luppers on Oct 6, 2008 10:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Lawler is a UFC dropout. The competition in Elite is making him look good. Scott Smith is another UFC dropout and there fight was pretty competitive.

by LJ on Oct 6, 2008 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

ding ding ding

by jerrolds on Oct 6, 2008 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Lawler has gotten much better since his UFC days, but I do also believe that his watered down opponents are making him look better. Its hard for me to gauge his skills until I see him face other top fighters. I dont think beating Ninja and Scott Smith gets you to a top 5 ranking!

by john on Oct 6, 2008 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think that a lot of the WW’s in the UFC would smoke him. Hell, I bet a lot of the Lightweights would give him a lot of problems. I can’t say I’ve been overly impressed by any of his fights and that has been against lesser competition in EliteXC. The higher caliber UFC guys would manhandle him.

by JRK on Oct 6, 2008 11:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

BJ Penn is the ONLY LW in the UFC that can beat Shields.

by ViolentMike on Oct 6, 2008 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

disagree, i think huerta would give him problems, along with guys like stevenson, sherk, tyson griffin, frankie edgar, gray maynard, all of them are more well rounded in my opinion than shields even though they are smaller. Now I think Kenflo is better than alot of those guys but he would have real problems with the size difference.

by Crowls on Oct 6, 2008 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Crowls! u do realize that there are weight classes for a reason right? Semtex is a pretty big welterweight and Sheilds DWARFED him! Only UFC lightweight that can beat Sheilds is BJ Penn!

by john on Oct 6, 2008 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

dont forget Shields beat Yushin Okami who is pretty huge even for a middleweight

by brendan on Oct 6, 2008 8:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Really needs to work on his cardio and stand up. Looked tired against Daley and his GnP was weak, not really troubling Semtex. Great armbar, his Jits was impressive.

by UKmmaBOY on Oct 6, 2008 10:03 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Listen to this tool.
http://mmarated.com/videos/v/20081005/jared_shaw_post_fight_interview-6099.html

by the_mexicutioner on Oct 6, 2008 10:55 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Since when is a douche referred to as a tool? Point taken.

The hammer to the back of the head is illegal, but you see it all the time… a fighter gets hurt and their opponent is throwing from odd angles at a moving target.

Talk about a huge gamble going tits up. They really had no idea that Kimbo would lose to Seth?

I wonder, if Seth hadn’t weighed 205.5 if he would have even been allowed by the commission to fight at HW? Anybody have any info on that decision?

by SaVaGe on Oct 6, 2008 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He probably wasn’t lying when he said he was happy Petruzelli won.

by PW on Oct 6, 2008 7:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i don’t know about you guys but I do not think he has the punching power that is needed to move up in weight. It was pretty obvious that his punches has little or no effect on his opponent on Saturday. The guy was smiling at him from the bottom.

by Calgary MLS on Oct 6, 2008 1:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs