Jake Shields on his upcoming fight on EliteXC-CBS event
In his recent guest appearance on a radio show, Jake Shields talks about his upcoming bout against Nick Thompson. The encounter is the second installment of EliteXC-CBS tie-up, which takes place July 26 at the Stockton Arena in California. Shields and Thompson vie for the organization’s first-ever welterweight belt.
“I’m really excited about this fight,” Shields said. “I think we’re both, me and Nick, right at the top of our group. We’re both on a huge win streak. This is the fight I asked for.”
Shields’ career boasts of 20-4-1 tally while his opponent rides in 36-9-1 record. Obviously, the bout is a clash of two veteran MMA warriors.
Shields has expected to match up against UFC veteran fighter Drew Fickett to wrangle for the belt. However, instead of fighting it out with Shields, Fickett decided to compete in a smaller organization. Fickett’s reason for the pull out was an injury.
The 29-year-old fighter voiced out his perplexity over Fickett’s move.
“It’s kind of weird,” Shields said. “I don’t know what happened. I know I was supposed to fight him on the 14th (of June), and on the 7th he fought someone else. I think it was (a) really easy (fight) on the 7th. … Obviously it was a stupid move. I don’t know what he was thinking. That EliteXC would just be like, ‘no big deal?’ Obviously they weren’t happy if they dropped his contract.”
Shields handpicked Thompson to fight him in lieu of Fickett.
“When I found out Fickett pulled out, the first thing, like any other, we’re looking around, (and) they asked me if I had any other ideas,” Shields said. “Nick Thompson came right to mind. It’s funny; I’d just read an article a couple days before Drew pulled out, and [Thompson] called me out in the article, and I’m like, ‘Perfect. Nick’s on a big winning streak. He’s asking to fight me. Let’s bring in Nick.’”
It is apparent Shields found a worthy opponent in Thompson and vice versa.
“I think it’s an all-around great fight,” Thompson said. “I’m excited for it. I want to fight good guys. That’s why I asked for him. I saw him as the toughest guy I could fight, other than a couple of the guys in the UFC – (Georges) St. Pierre and (Jon) Fitch and stuff. That’s why I asked for him, so we’ll see what happens.”
The event is Shields’ re-emergence into the fight scene. His last ring encounter was last November 2007 and an injury has forced Shields to take a long break. But he is quick to reassure that he is now completely recovered from that injury.
“[My shoulder] took longer than I wanted for it to heal,” Shields said. “I ended up being hurt for about three months with that thing. (I’m) finally back to 100 percent, and I’m training full-on and I’m ready to fight.”
Tags: CBS, Drew Fickett, EliteXC, Jake Shields, MMA, Nick Thompson