Jake Shields unsure of UFC title shot
Before Jake Shields faced Martin Kampmann at Ultimate Fighting Championship 121, UFC president Dana White all but promised Shields a title fight if he defeated Kampmann. Shields did win
the bout, but he did so in a rather unconvincing manner and now, even Shields believes he may have to wait for his shot at the UFC welterweight belt.
Shields, speaking to Sherdog Radio, had this to say about his title shot, “…at this point, I’m not 100 percent sure. I know Dana’s made it sound like it’s a good chance it’s still happening,
but I don’t know until it’s signed. Right now I’m just back at the gym, doing my thing. If they want me to fight for the title, I’ll happily do that. If not, I’ll fight whoever they want me to fight.”
The Kampmann fight was Shields’ UFC debut. Shields had 11 years of mixed martial arts experience under his belt before he signed with the UFC. Along with those years of experience he had
been a champion for two other MMA promotions, holding the welterweight title for Elite XC, and more recently, the middleweight title for Strikeforce.
Shields’ last fight with Strikeforce was a unanimous decision victory of Dan Henderson. That victory had Dana White signing his praises during the build-up to UFC 121. Dana had this to
say, “He (Shields) just beat Dan Henderson. He should actually get the (title) shot just for that.”
The victory over Kampmann was not the statement fight that Shields had hoped for and he acknowledged that fact, “I was being stupid. I misjudged some things. I misjudged the weight cut
coming down. (dropping from middleweight to welterweight) I made a lot of mistakes.” Shields continued, “I’m not happy with my performance overall, but I am happy I won. I’m ready to move forward and have a better second fight in the UFC.”
At this time only Dana White knows if that second fight will be for the UFC welterweight title.
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