Jake Shields grinds out unimpressive win in UFC debut
Jake Shields made his Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight debut at UFC 121 on Saturday night. Shields managed to leave the Honda Centre in Anaheim, CA with a victory over Martin
Kampmann. However, the highly touted Shields was unimpressive in the split decision victory.
Shields entered the UFC with a strong pedigree; 11 years of mixed martial arts experience, EliteXC welterweight (170lb) champion as well as Strikeforce middleweight (185lb) champion.
On top of his accomplishments, he drew high praise from UFC president Dana White who stated, “He just beat Dan Henderson (in his fight prior to joining the UFC), he should get the (title)
shot just for that…but timing and coming into the UFC, it is what it is.”
Prior to this fight, Shields had not competed at welterweight since submitting Paul Daley in October of 2008 while defending his EliteXC championship.
Shields looked good early in the fight, showing his superior grappling and submission skills. Shields had Kampmann on the ground and worked on securing various submission holds in the
first round and mostly avoided the strong striking skills of Kampmann.
Shields began to slow in the second round and Kampmann failed to take advantage of Shields’ fatigue. Instead of attacking Shields with his striking, Kampmann tried to grapple with Shields
and that most likely cost him the victory.
At one point in the third round Shields was so tired that he just gave up on a single leg takedown and went to his knees and elbows in the centre of the cage. Kampmann’s corner should
have noticed the fatigue of Shields and implored their fighter to make the fight a stand up battle.
The judges scored the fight 29-28(Kampmann), 30-27(Shields) and 29-28(Shields). Shields was clearly exhausted when his hand was raised in victory.
In the end it was a disappointing fight for Shields and an equally disappointing fight for Kampmann. UFC colour commentator Joe Rogan speculated throughout the fight that Shields may have
been suffering the effects of a tough weight cut, as he hadn't had to make 170 in years.
“I don’t want to make excuses, but that was the first time down at 170 in a while. I think I dropped too much weight. If that was a factor I don’t know,” said Shields after the fight. “Pulled out 20 pounds
in a day. Will I do that again? Never.”
UFC President Dana White refused to accept the weight issue as an excuse, but still defended his new fighter's performance.
“No matter where Jake’s fought, what he’s done, who he’s beaten, or what he’s accomplished, it’s tough coming into the UFC for your first time. He beat a tough guy tonight and got his first win under his
belt. I don’t think any differently about the kid than I did yesterday at the weigh-ins,” White commented.
Shields’ next fight is expected to be against the winner of the 11 December fight between UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre and challenger Josh Koscheck.
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