Jake Shields jumps in front of Jon Fitch for shot at UFC welterweight title
Ultimate Fighting Championships mixed martial artist Jon Fitch has been waiting for a long time for his second shot at the welterweight (170lb) title. He thought he’d earned it for sure after defeating fellow
top contender Thiago Alves, but on Tuesday UFC president Dana White announced he’ll probably have to wait longer.
White said instead the next shot at Georges St-Pierre’s title would go to new UFC signing Jake Shields, who is set to fight Martin Kampmann at UFC 121 on 23 October in Anaheim, provided Shields can beat Kampmann.
"Jake Shields is obviously at the top of the list. If Jake Shields should win against Martin Kampmann, he probably would be next," said Dana White.
The news means White is reneging on an earlier promise to give it to Fitch. He announced at UFC 117 that if Fitch beat Alves he would get the shot, but Fitch put in a trademark grinding wrestling performance
for the win, which bored fans in attendance. Immediately after the event White suggested Fitch’s title shot wasn’t a sure deal.
Fitch has been unquestionably the second best welterweight in the UFC since he joined the promotion in 2005. He’s an incredible 13-1 in that period, with his lone loss coming when he finally got his title
shot at UFC 87 in August 2008. But he got destroyed in that fight, though he earned plaudits from fans who admired his gutsy efforts in keeping coming forward throughout the fight despite getting badly beaten. Since then he’s won five fights, but his low-risk
style and inability to finish opponents has hampered his ability to get another shot at the title.
Shields on the other hand is a UFC rookie, but he achieved MMA super-stardom by capturing the Strikeforce middleweight (185lb) title and defeating MMA legend Dan Henderson despite coming in as a heavy underdog.
After that fight he signed with the UFC.
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