So Ummm... Jake Shields Was Released...

[Illustrator76]

Re: So Ummm... Jake Shields Was Released...

Im not saying that at all. He took Hendo down, who is a great wrestler, but he couldnt finish him after getting mount a lot.

True, good point. I would have liked to seen Shields to finish Hendo too, I wasn't necessarily talking about you underrating Shields, it's the MMA community in general that seems to do it.

[redsrule]

Re: So Ummm... Jake Shields Was Released...

True, good point. I would have liked to seen Shields to finish Hendo too, I wasn't necessarily talking about you underrating Shields, it's the MMA community in general that seems to do it.

Yea, he would be more suited at ww especially in the UFC. I can understand why he didnt at Strikeforce, but Anderson Silva when he tries finishes his fights, Marquardt, Belfort, etc. WW is full of boring wrestlers, not calling Shields boring though.

[SA1NT401]

Re: So Ummm... Jake Shields Was Released...

Shields....Good god he isnt worth a slot in the UFC honestly....

[Phillmattic]

Re: So Ummm... Jake Shields Was Released...

Im not saying that at all. He took Hendo down, who is a great wrestler, but he couldnt finish him after getting mount a lot.

This isn't UFC the videogame, getting mount isn't a guaranteed win. You're not impressed with the fact that Shields basically dominated one of the best fighters in the sport?

[feedthehorse28]

Re: So Ummm... Jake Shields Was Released...

This isn't UFC the videogame, getting mount isn't a guaranteed win. You're not impressed with the fact that Shields basically dominated one of the best fighters in the sport?

If you give Maia the mount on Hendo, I guarantee you he finishes that fight. Him being able to take down Hendo and control him is impressive but not terribly awe-inspiring since Dan isn't know for doing anything off his back. But in order for me to consider him one of the ELITE, top-level guys I would've liked to see a finish, especially after the beating he took in the first two rounds.

[Deadeye15]

Re: So Ummm... Jake Shields Was Released...

Shields....Good god he isnt worth a slot in the UFC honestly....

I hope this is an attempt at sarcasm. If not I'd like to hear your reasoning behind this. 25-4-1 and hasn't lost in 6 years doesn't deserve a slot in the UFC?

[Phillmattic]

Re: So Ummm... Jake Shields Was Released...

If you give Maia the mount on Hendo, I guarantee you he finishes that fight. Him being able to take down Hendo and control him is impressive but not terribly awe-inspiring since Dan isn't know for doing anything off his back. But in order for me to consider him one of the ELITE, top-level guys I would've liked to see a finish, especially after the beating he took in the first two rounds.

The guy just dominated arguably the #2 ranked MW in the world at the time and one of the best fighters the sport has ever seen and he isn't even as good as demian maia?

The UFC bias in this forum is getting ridiculous .

[mgoblue]

Re: So Ummm... Jake Shields Was Released...

The guy just dominated arguably the #2 ranked MW in the world at the time and one of the best fighters the sport has ever seen and he isn't even as good as demian maia?

The UFC bias in this forum is getting ridiculous .

The Anti-UFC bias in this forum is getting rediculous too lol

I disagree with that guy though, Jake Shields is awesome and I'll be very happy to see him come to the UFC.

[feedthehorse28]

Re: So Ummm... Jake Shields Was Released...

The guy just dominated arguably the #2 ranked MW in the world at the time and one of the best fighters the sport has ever seen and he isn't even as good as demian maia?

The UFC bias in this forum is getting ridiculous .

It's not a bias, I'm just being a realist. I haven't seen the guy against UFC competition and it's pretty obvious to me that the best fighters in the world fight in the UFC.

Yeah there are some guys that are definitely good fighters (Shields, Fedor, Alvares, Aoki, Overeem, Melendez, Souza) that don't fight in the UFC, but if they truly want to test their skills and see how they stack up as far being the best in the world that's where they need to be. Hendo was a good win for him and I will be more than willing to eat my own words if Shields runs through the MW division in the UFC, but from what I've seen from the guy I haven't been that impressed. Not saying he's not good, but I don't think that guy gets a UFC title.

And as far being as good as Maia on the ground, I just don't see that. IF there is anyone who can compete with Maia in BJJ it's Souza and the last time I checked he wasn't fighting in the UFC. So there's no bias there. It's got nothing to do with me not wanting to see Shields in the UFC, it's always good to have another solid fighter to add depth. But I just don't think he lives up to the hype. We'll see what happens though...

[Phillmattic]

Re: So Ummm... Jake Shields Was Released...

The Anti-UFC bias in this forum is getting rediculous too lol

I disagree with that guy though, Jake Shields is awesome and I'll be very happy to see him come to the UFC.

Where have you seen anti-UFC bias?

[sven]

Re: So Ummm... Jake Shields Was Released...

Shields is boring as **** and hasn't beaten anyone worth damn in years. I wish he'd stay in Strikeforce. The UFC already has Jon Fitch to put people to sleep.

And no Hendo is a medicore MW at best. The scrub gassed out in the first round.

[Phillmattic]

Re: So Ummm... Jake Shields Was Released...

It's not a bias, I'm just being a realist. I haven't seen the guy against UFC competition and it's pretty obvious to me that the best fighters in the world fight in the UFC.

Yeah there are some guys that are definitely good fighters (Shields, Fedor, Alvares, Aoki, Overeem, Melendez, Souza) that don't fight in the UFC, but if they truly want to test their skills and see how they stack up as far being the best in the world that's where they need to be. Hendo was a good win for him and I will be more than willing to eat my own words if Shields runs through the MW division in the UFC, but from what I've seen from the guy I haven't been that impressed. Not saying he's not good, but I don't think that guy gets a UFC title.

And as far being as good as Maia on the ground, I just don't see that. IF there is anyone who can compete with Maia in BJJ it's Souza and the last time I checked he wasn't fighting in the UFC. So there's no bias there. It's got nothing to do with me not wanting to see Shields in the UFC, it's always good to have another solid fighter to add depth. But I just don't think he lives up to the hype. We'll see what happens though...

He just beat Dan Henderson who JUST left the UFC. How is that not "UFC level competition?"

And to say he wouldn't win a UFC title doesn't mean much when the fact that the two weight divisions that he fights in also have the most dominant champions. Who in the UFC now is going to beat Anderson Silva and GSP?

[jeremym480]

Re: So Ummm... Jake Shields Was Released...

I think Shields is a good signing for the UFC. He's a Top 5 MW and a guy I love to hate. He has some good wins in his career against some UFC caliber guys (Hendo, Mayhem, Lawler, Daley, Condit, etc.) With that said I do not think he should come in and get an immediate shot at the title. He needs a good win or two before even being considered, IMO. Mainly because of his last two fights. Beating a gassed 40 year old Hendo isn't that impressive to me and Mayhem gave him all he wanted. Hell, I wouldn't have minded seeing a rematch between those two before Jake left. Oh well.

I would like to see him fight someone like Mark Munoz or someone else who is around the cusp of the Top 10 in the MW Divison. If he wins that let him fight someone like Marquardt in a number one contender's match. I do however, believe that Belfort deserves a shot at the winner of Silva/Sonnen first.

[mgoblue]

Re: So Ummm... Jake Shields Was Released...

Where have you seen anti-UFC bias?

There's quite a few hardcore Fedor fans out there who bash the UFC HW division and yet use the old guys to prop up Fedor's current competition...

It goes both ways, I ignore it, but it's there...there's a lot of guys who hate the UFC and Dana White and will always find ways to bitch about the UFC. Same as how there are guys who are totally for the UFC and refuse to think anything else is good.

I'm just a MMA fan, but I will admit that I'm primarily a UFC fan since it's got 95% of the best fighters out there. I watch some Strikeforce, but it's hard for me to get interested in a lot of guys I have no idea who they are. I see all the UFC fighters so much (on free tv, ppv, ultimate fighter, etc), so it's way easier to get into watching them fight.

[feedthehorse28]

Re: So Ummm... Jake Shields Was Released...

He just beat Dan Henderson who JUST left the UFC. How is that not "UFC level competition?"

And to say he wouldn't win a UFC title doesn't mean much when the fact that the two weight divisions that he fights in also have the most dominant champions. Who in the UFC now is going to beat Anderson Silva and GSP?

That's like saying Fedor has been facing UFC competition cause he's beaten Randleman, Arlovski and Sylvia. And I'm not talking about fighting one or two guys that at one point in time were in the UFC, I'm talking about fighting through a rigorous UFC schedule where you're matched up against three tough opponents a year.

And to answer the Hendo question....

Beating a gassed 40 year old Hendo isn't that impressive to me and Mayhem gave him all he wanted.

Big. Fat. This.

Now admittedly, I'm a pretty big Hendo fan so I won't go as far as sven and call him a "scrub," but I still recognize the fact that he is on the downhill part of his career. And that doesn't trivialize the win as Hendo is still a big name, but it's not THAT he beat him, it's HOW he beat him. Like I mentioned before, he was getting his *** kicked before Hendo gassed and even then he couldn't finish him despite being in dominant positions for almost three rounds. That's just not impressive to me. I guess what I'm trying to say is that although Hendo is no slouch, he isn't what he once was.

Now does Shields have good wrestling? Undoubtedly, yes. Does he have good BJJ? Although I consider it to be a bit overrated, I will still say yes. But is he also a one-dimensional fighter? Yes. Do I think he will have success in the UFC? Moderate at best.

I don't know, I may be in the minority here but I just don't think he's as great as everyone makes him out to be. If I have any bias at all, it's that I can't stand the guy along with the rest of the Gracie camp. But there are plenty of fighters that I don't care for and can still recognize their skill (i.e. Lesnar, Penn, Mir).

We can argue about this for days, but my opinion isn't going to change. To me, the bottom line is this: Shields is a good sign for the UFC because he adds depth to a somewhat thin division, however based on what I've seen from the guy I don't think he is an elite, titleholder-level talent. That's it.