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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Following his loss to Georges St. Pierre at UFC 129, Jake Shields doesn't seem to have a shortage of fighters willing to take a fight with him in the UFC.
Although Jake Ellenberger has been calling him out for some time, former UFC Lightweight and Welterweight Champion B.J. Penn has now thrown his name into the mix for a fight with the former Strikeforce and EliteXC Champ.
Shields responded to a fan on Twitter late last week who wanted to see a fight between the two by saying it wouldn't be a bad idea, and Penn responded through Twitter on Monday night.
"I would never challenge one of Cesar Gracie's guys, but you've been calling me out for years," Penn wrote. "Let's do it! I'll contact Dana."
With Penn's previously scheduled opponent in Jon Fitch out and recovering after suffering a shoulder injury in their fight in February and subsequently undergoing surgery, Penn is likely going to be ready to return earlier than Fitch, and if that's the case he'll be in need of another top level opponent. Shields, coming off a title fight and a lengthy win streak prior to the loss to GSP, would certainly fit that bill.
Penick's Analysis: If Penn has any influence in getting the fight together, this will be an excellent welterweight fight. Though Ellenberger is certainly an option, and a fight with Josh Koscheck is one I had in mind after UFC 129, Penn would absolutely be a great option. Though Shields would significantly out-weigh him come fight night, Penn would be a very interesting puzzle for Shields to try to solve with his takedown defense through a three round fight and his superior striking game. This is a fight I would love to see.
[B.J. Penn art by Cory Gould (c) MMATorch.com]
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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