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[MickeyKnox]

Shields Looking to Take Down GSP: Confidence High for Shields - BJPENN.COM - UFC NEWS - MMA NEWS

In lieu of his upcoming fight with GSP set for UFC 129 in April, Jake Shields took some time to discuss his fighting style and how he feels it will stack up next to the current champ. Shields expressed extreme confidence in the possibility of him walking away with the welterweight belt after April 30th. He explained that he is more motivated than ever and stated, “I hate losing. It’s a horrible feeling and that’s why I haven’t lost in six years. I go out there to win at all costs and I don’t know where that mentality comes from. We can be friends after the fight but I do make myself not like the guy when I’m going to fight him. You can’t go in there thinking you’re friends with the other guy because it will ruin the ‘win at all costs’ mentality.”

After being asked about GSP’s recent destruction of former number one contender Josh Koshcheck, Shields explained, “GSP was great as always. He’s a phenomenal fighter and now he showed he has a really good jab.” Shields seemed to be giving St. Pierre the credit deserved by a #1 pound-for-pound fighter, but he still expressed his own confidence in his ability to dethrone the current king of the welterweight division. He said, “I definitely feel that I’ll find a way to get him down and I think he’s going to try to get me down too. He’s a great wrestler and Jiu-Jitsu fighter as well so I think this fight will definitely hit the ground.”


He then went on to explain how his style is what will separate him from the rest of the welterweights that have fallen to St. Pierre. Shields stated, “There are big differences between me and all of the other guys at 170lbs. Koscheck shoots in a big blast double from outside and GSP had an answer for that. I have some different strategies and I’m going to try to come up with some new strategies because it is hard to get GSP to the ground. I have a feeling I’ll be able to get him down there with my style.”

It seems logical to think that, although Shields predicts a ground fight, GSP will stand and out-strike the former Strikeforce Champion. In the past Shields has shown holes in his striking game, but has always been able to take the fight were he feels most comfortable (the ground) and grind out victories. His fight with St. Pierre will surely test his grappling skills and, in my opinion, GSP will expose just how large the striking holes are in Shields’ game. However, Shields defended his striking and explained, “I’m obviously not getting hit too much. Henderson hit me pretty hard, but besides that I usually take a few shots then go out there and win fights. I’m constantly working on [my striking] to get it better, but I always find a way to win.”

It’s safe to say that on April 30th in Toronto Shields will meet the best fighter he has ever faced in Georges St. Pierre. Shields will be dragged though the fire in this fight, and if he survives he will surely gain a large amount of respect from the MMA community, who feel that he is getting the title shot too quickly.

His striking skills have never been his strongest attribute, but his wrestling skills have always made up for his downfalls on the feet. However, GSP will likely be the best MMA wrestler that Shields has ever met as well, so if he cannot get St. Pierre to the ground he could be in for a very long night in Toronto. St. Pierre recently showed just how effective and dangerous his jab can be, so Shields will have to find a way to keep distance during striking exchanges, and then find a way to quickly close that space if he wishes to get Georges to the ground. Let’s put it this way…A lot of things have to go right for Shields to win this fight. Like, pretty much everything. But that’s not to say that it cannot be done. Shields is a world class championship caliber fighter, and his skills will be tested in April against one of the greatest welterweights in MMA history. We are definitely looking forward to seeing if Shields can live up to his words and chop down the giant that is GSP. We’ll find out on April 30th, 2011 at UFC 129 in Toronto.

[packman31]

I'm a Shields fan, but won't be biased. I think anyone who watches him fight knows he has horrendous stand-up. He's been working at Tiger Muay Thai, but in his interviews, he seems to think he can take anyone to the ground, so he doesn't have to work stand-up that much. I want him beat GSP, but he ain't well rounded and someone needs to bring him back down to earth, so he'd start doing stand-up more seriously. I don't train with him, but he just seems to think he doesn't need to do stand-up because he can take a fight to the ground. He's a future Champion, but I think he may have to lose a fight to realize being great in one part of MMA is just not enough

[The Return Of......]

Shields Looking to Take Down GSP

like he even needed to say this...............

is there anyone who thought shields would actually try to stand with gsp?? his only shot is taking him down and getting a sub

[goodtimes]

Originally Posted by packman31

I'm a Shields fan, but won't be biased. I think anyone who watches him fight knows he has horrendous stand-up. He's been working at Tiger Muay Thai, but in his interviews, he seems to think he can take anyone to the ground, so he doesn't have to work stand-up that much. I want him beat GSP, but he ain't well rounded and someone needs to bring him back down to earth, so he'd start doing stand-up more seriously. I don't train with him, but he just seems to think he doesn't need to do stand-up because he can take a fight to the ground. He's a future Champion, but I think he may have to lose a fight to realize being great in one part of MMA is just not enough

He's 31, not exactly a young guy. I think he realizes that at this point, he can only learn enough striking to not get completely outclassed on the feet. Until his fight with Hendo, he had never been knocked down, and he's fought some pretty good strikers.

[cnlclink]

Originally Posted by DayneFS

Shields Looking to Take Down GSP: Confidence High for Shields - BJPENN.COM - UFC NEWS - MMA NEWS
“I definitely feel that I’ll find a way to get him down and I think he’s going to try to get me down too. He’s a great wrestler and Jiu-Jitsu fighter as well so I think this fight will definitely hit the ground.”

I wonder why he thinks that St. Pierre will try to take him to the ground other than possibly to make him think about being taken down. I'd like to point out that Miller was extremely close to submitting Shields so he's not impervious to being put in danger. I don't really have any idea whose submission game is better, St. Pierre or Miller, but I would have to lean toward Miller.

[The Return Of......]

i dont think gsp miller ever hit the ground and they have both grown.

i only bring it up cuz it was a fun fight to watch

[MetallicKnight3X]

yea with all that said.. im going with GSP by complete humiliating domination of Shields.

[HillbillyDeluxe]

No offense to Jake Shields but as of watching the GSP/Kos fight, Jake is also gonna get outboxed. His stand-up is HORRENDOUS. I really feel that GSP is gonna dominate this fight in every aspect just like his fight with Koscheck. I dont like GSP at all nor am I a fan of "Captain Canada' that's just the way I really think this is going down.

[singhc]

GSP via jabs lol

[dgil]

There's a big difference between Kos and Shields, and some guys are trying to make comparisons. Kos has horrible stand up, and GSP showed him that, but KOS thinks that he has good stand up. He kept saying he was going to knock out GSP and wanted to trade with him, etc. Shields on the other hand, while his stand up is lackluster, he knows this. He is not going to trade with GSP, he will clinch him up, close the distance, and take it to the ground.