Shields continues poor run in the UFC | Thebigtip

Saturday September the 17^th, marked the lowest point in Jake Shields’ MMA career. The 32 year-old was brutally knocked out by wrestler Jake Ellenberger in the main event of the UFC Fight Night.

Shields started his UFC career in October of last year and looked unconvincing against Danish stand-up fighter Martin Kampmann, just shading a split decision victory over his opponent. I, like many MMA analysts felt that Shields did not do enough to edge a decision in the October bout- the American’s ever-impressive grappling skills eluded him in the fight. Shields was never able dominate Kampann on the feet or on the ground, and rarely threatened with submission attempts.

Shields’s next fight was for the UFC welterweight belt against Canadian legend Georges ‘Rush’ St-Pierre (GSP). Shields was convincingly picked apart in his first UFC title challenge- with the judges scoring the fight- 50-45, 48-47 and 48-47.

The California native’s stand-up skills left a lot to be desired in this bout, Shields looked very tentative when coming forward and was unable to threaten the champion with any take-downs.

Many may ask: Where does this leave Shields in the UFC Welterweight division?

Shields’s latest loss to Ellenberger will leave the 32 year-old on a long road to recovery, with many other top fighters now ahead of him in the welterweight pecking order. With GSP vacating the number one spot, other names such as Carlos Condit (who faces off against GSP at UFC 137 for the welterweight belt). Strikeforce welterweight champ Nick Diaz, UFC legend BJ Penn and Jon Fitch are all vying for GSP’s crown. 

The hype that surrounded Shields’s first UFC appearance suggested that the Jiu-Jiitsu practitioner would go on to achieve unprecedented greatness in the World’s biggest mixed martial arts organisation.

However Shields’s current situation could not be further from the hype that once surrounded the former Strikeforce Middleweight champion.

At 32 years of age Shields does not have much time to turn his fortunes around, and perish his UFC demons.

The American’s last three outings have bought Shields’s flaws to the fore. Shields’s reliance on his ability to take an opponent to the ground and submit them, has made his game very predictable.

There is no doubting that the welterweight possesses the most deadly Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills in the world of MMA. However it is on his feet, where his game has become unstuck.

Looking very tentative and hesitant when striking with the majority of his opponents, and never establishing a workable stand-up identity.

For his next UFC bout Shields will need to go back to the drawing board and alter his game plan or the American will be in grave danger of suffering a third consecutive UFC loss and maybe being cut from the organisation altogether.