...OH, ONE MORE THING - PLEASE BOOKMARK US & VISIT DAILY!
Do you believe Jake Shields has a true chance to defeat Georges St. Pierre at UFC 129? And what would he need to do to win?
RICH HANSEN, MMATORCH COLUMNIST
Look, I want Jake Shields to win, no disrespect to Georges St-Pierre. And you should want Shields to win too, as it would liven up an increasingly stale division during an increasingly stale period in UFC history. A Shields win would rock the division, and the UFC, far more than Matt Serra's 2007 upset of St-Pierre rocked the sport. And now that Zuffa controls pretty much the entire sport, and the entire narrative of the sport, the only real stories are going to be the fights themselves. Of course, a Jake Shields victory would be a far bigger story than a Jake Shields loss (although, since Shields is on a fifteen fight win streak dating back to 2004, that would be newsworthy under other circumstances), and as a writer I root for the story.
That said, GSP wins this fight in the round of his choosing, by the method of his choosing.
ALVIN CARTER, MMATORCH SPECIALIST
Yes, I think Jake Shields has a chance to win this fight. It would have to be on the ground, or a very well placed and almost lucky strike to the chin. I do see GSP winning this in a later round or by decision, though, but if it goes to decision who knows what the verdict might be as sometimes it seems as though the judges are watching a different fight from the one in front of them.
FRANK HYDEN, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR
Honestly, no, I don't think Jake Shields has much of a chance in this fight. This is MMA, so anything can happen, but Georges St. Pierre has been so dominant that there's no real reason to believe that Shields will stop him. Shields is a really good fighter, but GSP is one of the all-time greatest. The only way Shields can win is to take GSP down and stay on top and hope for the decision. I don't see that happening so I see GSP winning another dominant 5 round decision.
GRIFFIN MARSH, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR
No. Don't believe this nonsense hype about Shields submitting GSP. Shields has never faced and can't control/manhandle a man with the strength and dexterity of GSP. He cannot hold GSP down which means it's a fist fight. GSP all the way. Shields will show extreme signs of fatigue by the end of the first round.
JASON AMADI, MMATORCH COLUMNIST
Jake Shield hasn't been stopped in a fight in eleven years, hasn't lost a fight in six years, and is currently riding a fifteen fight winning streak into his bout with Georges St. Pierre. Jake Shields knows how to win, he knows what he's good it, and he definitely has a real chance to defeat anyone at 170 pounds. However, it just so happens that the man he's facing at UFC 129 is stylistic poison for grapplers with poor striking skills and has proven that fact for years.
The one true skill that Shields possess above all others that St. Pierre has faced in the past is his ability to get a hold of his opponent's neck and finish the fight. If Jake Shields wins this fight, it's likely to come off a takedown or clinch where St. Pierre escapes but leaves his neck exposed long enough for Shields to sink in a choke and end the fight.
Shields' chances of knocking off St. Pierre are slim, but Jake Shields has earned the right to be taken seriously.
CHRIS PARK, MMATORCH UK SPECIALIST
Jake Shields most definitely has a chance of defeating Georges St. Pierre this Saturday night. Claims of "no chance" and "mismatch" are quite simply naive and extremely disrespectful to Shields himself.
This is a guy who has overcome so many top level fighters, who is coming off 15-straight wins, and has won titles all over - Shields is not a "gimme" for anyone.
On the flip side GSP is by far the most daunting opponent that Shields has ever faced and while Shields has a significant grappling advantage, the Canadian is far superior every where else. If Shields can somehow get St. Pierre to the mat then he has a real chance of winning this one. Getting St. Pierre down there, however, is a different thing all together and I for one am extremely excited ahead of this clash.
ERIC HOBAUGH, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR
If MMA has taught us anything, it is any fighter can be beaten on any given night. GSP was on the receiving end of the worst upset in the history of the sport when he was defeated by huge underdog Matt Serra in 2007. Jake Shields is perfect in his last 15 fights. Some names on that list include Okami, Condit, Daley, Lawler, Mayhem, Henderson and Kampmann. He has a good chance of beating GSP. He is generally considered the best BJJ practitioner in the welterweight division. Jake Shields needs to surprise GSP with much improved striking or wrestling in order to steal this victory. With the right game plan, he can win. GSP will not be expecting Shields to stand up and may not be as prepared for that type of fight. Having said all that, I believe GSP wins this fight in dominating fashion.
ANWAR PEREZ, MMATORCH COLUMNIST
I truly do NOT believe that Jake Shields has a chance to defeat Georges St. Pierre. Shields may be more experienced and stronger in wrestling and striking than any of GSP's opponents of recent memory, GSP still outshines him in those areas hand over fist. Expect this to be another dominating win by THE pound for pound fighter in the world.
ALEX WILLIAMS, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR
Not really. Sure, Jake Shields could catch Georges St. Pierre in a guillotine or armbar, but I think the odds are miniscule that he does so. Shields' best chance to win, as his camp seemed to acknowledge on UFC Primetime, is by taking GSP down and either submitting or dominating him round-after-round from the top position. I don't see it happening.
MATT PELKEY, MMATORCH COLUMNIST
I think his only real chance is to snatch St. Pierre's neck early in the fight a la the Robbie Lawler fight, but realistically, no I don't think he can pull it off. We've seen George St. Pierre use his wrestling to win his last several fights, wearing opponents down with takedowns and crippling top control, before keeping the fights on the feet in the last couple rounds once he feels their reactions have been slowed enough that the threat of being knocked out has been eliminated. I think we'll actually see a reversal of that strategy against Shields. For the first two or three rounds, expect GSP to keep Shields at a distance with his jab, occasionally mixing in kicks and power punches when he feels like doing so. After fifteen minutes of that, I expect Shields to be worn down enough that St. Pierre will plant him on his back and control him for the remainder of the fight.
DON'T GO YET... WE SUGGEST THESE MMATORCH ARTICLES, TOO!
Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
STAFF COLUMNISTS: Shawn Ennis - Jason Amadi
Frank Hyden - Rich Hansen
Chris Park - Matt Pelkey
Interested in joining MMATorch's writing team? Send idea for a theme to your column (for Specialist section) or area of interest (i.e. TV Reporter) along with a sample of writing to mmatorch@gmail.com.
