Props: MMA Weekly

Quoteworthy:

"It was horrible. After the first round I sat down and I was just completely exhausted. I was like ‘oh (expletive) ten minutes to go.’ I knew at that point I was just going to have to dig deep and keep fighting. I knew it was too important not to lose my UFC debut. I’m a little embarrassed by the whole situation, but all I can do from here is move forward and learn from my mistakes, and usually when you make a big mistake you end up getting a loss off that. I guess I made a big mistake and I was still able to get the ‘W.’ If I was fighting GSP that night I don’t think I would have won, to be honest. I just don’t see myself beating GSP being the way I felt that night, but I also don’t feel that’s me. I feel like I can go out there and beat him still."

Former Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Jake Shields limps across the finish line after his Octagon debut at UFC 121 last Saturday night (Oct. 23) in Anaheim. The grappling guru was sucking wind after one round of fisticuffs against Martin Kampmann, but held on to squeak past "The Hitman" with a split decision win. Did Shields suffer from the debut blues? Or is he now a little fish in a big pond? Promotion President Dana White insists he's next up for the winner of "St. Pierre vs. Koscheck," but will Shields be ready? And can he redeem himself for his performance in Orange County?