UFC
Jake Shields on UFC after release: "They're trying to pull it away from being the best in the sport"
Apr 21, 2014 - 11:10:07 AM Jake Shields on UFC after release: "They're trying to pull it away from being the best in the sport"

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Jake Shields became the latest fighter to lose their spot in the UFC because of a style derided by fans, and in speaking about the release in an interview with MMAFighting.com, he said it seems like the UFC is pulling away from featuring strictly the best in the sport.

"My last two fights have been really close and I haven't finished, so I figure maybe they're just doing that," Shields said. "But that doesn't really... I feel like the sport, they're trying to pull it away from being the best in the sport, and just putting it into, oh, you gotta go and slug it out and fight the way they want you to, which is kind of ridiculous. You wouldn't have guys like Floyd Mayweather being the best in the world if [boxing executives] pressured him like that."

"But it's where [the sport] is right now. You just have to deal with it."

Shields said the release definitely surprised him, though he admitted he performed poorly against Hector Lombard. Still, he felt he should have gotten more than one loss to work with.

"I was definitely a little surprised, especially coming off some big wins, guys in the top-10, main events," Shields said. "I definitely didn't think they'd drop me after one loss. But, you know, I had a terrible performance. I certainly didn't feel like I fought like myself that night. But, given that it was one performance, you should get a second chance to go out there and try to win again. And I wasn't given that. But, ultimately it is what it is."

"I didn't read what Dana said, but 'another guy?' So are [a lot of other fighters] I guess, considering I beat at least half the guys in the top-10. That's a little bit ridiculous. But I guess you have to justify it somehow."

The former Strikeforce Champion has now signed on with the World Series of Fighting, and though he's out of his chance to be the best 170 lb. fighter in the world, he still has some legitimate competition ahead of him.

"A lot of [the reason I signed with WSOF] was competition," Shields said. "There were a lot of good offers on the table. I just had to look at all the different factors, fighting the best and where are these companies going."

"You always want more, of course, but ultimately I don't think it turned out too bad. Still making good money, still fighting for an organization that I respect, still have a great welterweight division in front of me, so overall it didn't turn out bad."

Penick's Analysis: It remains ridiculous that guys like Shields and Okami are out of the UFC off of one loss. The shift to the mentality that "stand and bang" is the only thing keeping viewers has hurt the full well-roundedness of the sport, but at the same time, it can't be enough to just stifle an opponent to keep yourself on top. Stifling top games with little offense, while effective enough in winning controlling decisions, it just doesn't entertain a lot of people. There is plenty to love about the ground game, but the problem Shields and Okami found themselves in is not doing a ton more with their ability to control. Still, they were beating top competition, and deserved their spots in the UFC.