UFC Officially Announces Jake Shields Signing

The worst kept secret in recent UFC signee history Jake Shields has officially been announced as a Welterweight competitor for the company. Shields upset the order of things when he bested Dan Henderson in a fight the promotion pretty much bet against their Champion Shields hoping that Henderson would hold the Strikeforce Middleweight torch. Jake Shields is normally a Welterweight fighter, but due to lack of name competition in the division in Strikeforce he moved up to Middleweight where he beat the aforementioned Henderson, Robbie Lawler, and Jason Miller. Strikeforce inherited Shields contract from the defunct EliteXC and because of that contract being without a Championship clause Shields was able to leave while holding a title. After the jump the full press release from the UFC.

MMA'S TOP 9 OF 2009

(The Prestigious "Dummy" Awards for 2009)

Opinions are like.... everyone has one and they all stink. Here is my take on some of the most exciting and talented fighters to shine in 2009.

9. Jake Shields

Aside from the much maligned performance that he won the Strikeforce Middleweight title with, Shields has been on a tear for some time now. He did however win the contest and became the Middleweight Champion against the tough vet Jason Miller. Before that dud of a fight Shields quickly submitted former Champ Robbie Lawler in an exciting fight, and the Miller fight was his first to go the distance since 2006.

8.  Brock Lesnar

Although he had just one fight this year, it was a dominating beating of the man to hand him his only defeat, Frank Mir. Lesnar also handed MMA fans one of the best post-fight speeches ever in which he proceeded to blast the UFC's biggest sponsor and disrespect his fallen opponent.  With Heavyweight contenders piling up in the UFC, hopefully Brock will be healthy and able to return to the cage ASAP.

7. Nick Diaz

Aside from Diaz's love from marijuana and his hate for the CSAC, Diaz has put on some of his most memorable performances. He completely dominated the legend Frank Shamrock and smashed the heavy handed Scott Smith all outside of his normal fighting weight as he moved up to Middleweight. Next year may be an even better one for Nick Diaz as he is set to compete for the Strikeforce Welterweight title.

6. Jon Jones

Jon "Bones" Jones is the most exciting prospect in the UFC, period. He burst on to the UFC radar after making his debut against the more experienced Andre Gusmao winning a unanimous decision. His competition didn't get any easier, but that fact was seemingly unknown to Bones. He smashed Stephan Bonner via UD, and just recently steamrolled Matt Hamill, but was unfairly disqualified due to an illegal strike way after the fight should have been stopped.

5. Gilbert Melendez

"El Nino" had a rough 2008 having racked up the two lone losses of his career to Mitsuhiro Ishida and Josh Thomson. The latter loss being the most painful because it was at the cos of his Strikeforce Lightweight strap. Melendez re-focused himself and blitzed through  Rodrigo Damm to earn the Interim belt at 155 and avenging his first professional loss to Ishida in dominant fashion. The last fight El Nino had this year was the much anticipated and long delayed re-match with "The Punk" and it turned out to be one of the best fights of the year. Melendez took the fight via UD to reclaim his spot atop the 155lb division in Strikeforce.

4. Dan Henderson

Dan started the year out with a close split decision win over rich Franklin to win the bid to be coach on TUF. "Hendo" had a tough run with a measly 1 fighter from his team on TUF make it to the finals of TUF USA vs UK. Henderson had his revenge however over the brash Micheal Bisping as he landed a hellacious right hand to put "The Count" out for the count. The former champion also signed a landmark deal with Strikeforce making him one of the biggest UFC stars to jump ship to the budding promotion. We look forward to seeing Hendo on CBS against the best middleweights Strikeforce has to offer.

3. Fedor Emelianenko

The Heavyweight fighter is still a fan-boys wet dream despite not signing with the MMA juggernaut the UFC. Fedor started the year off with a highlight reel KO of another former UFC champion in Andrei Arlovski as well as dispatching the formerly unbeaten Brett Rogers. MMA enthusiasts were treated to a trademark Fedor performance free on network television in his Strikeforce debut. Fans and pundits alike still wish for the former Pride FC star to make his long awaited debut in the UFC.

2. Georges Saint Pierre

The Canadian Middleweight king sent BJ Penn packing his bags back to the Lightweight division with a beating the likes of which Penn has never been privy to. GSP cemented his place at the top of his division with a dominating win over muay thai powerhouse Thiago Alves. Georges earned an award for being Canadian Athlete of the year for the second year in a row.

1. Jose Aldo

With some of the most exciting finishes in the WEC, and striking prowess similar to the UFC's Brazilian Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva, Aldo proved his worth with stirring wins over top contenders and Champion Mike Brown. "Junior" had four fights in the WEC in 2009 and all ended via KO/TKO as he pushed his way to the top. Aldo won the title from the ATT ace Brown with quick and accurate strikes to take his place atop the WEC's featherweight division. The 145lb firecracker is my pick for fighter of the year in 2009 and looks to have a bright 2010 ahead.

Exclusive: Jake Shields Talks Title Victory, Cung Le, and More!

In this exclusive interview with Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Jake Shields we discuss his title victory over highly regarded Jason "Mayhem" Miller and the backlash that came from the fans after the fight. Shields talks about his aspirations in the Middleweight and Welterweight divisions of Strikeforce as well as his desire to fight the UFC's 170lb king Georges Saint Pierre. Shields is a genuine dude who is one of the best submission fighters on the planet. Check out dumb-out.net's interview with Jake Shields by Nick Thomas on The Knockout Blow.

Fedor Smashes Rogers at Strikeforce Saturday Night Fights

A moral victory for Brett Rogers was all he was able to win against "The Last Emperor" in their Heavyweight bout on CBS Saturday Night Fights. Rogers was able to have moderate success in the opening stanza as he bloodied Fedor's nose with a stiff jab to open the cut.  In round two Fedor knocked down Rogers with a hard looping overhand punch that sent Brett's eyes rolling back in his head as Fedor pounded him out to get the TKO. Rogers did land some hard punches on the ground in the first, and was able to negate any submission attempts by the Russian cyborg.  Fedor found himself in a little bit of trouble, but overcame adversity as he always does to get the win. 

Main Card
Febricio Werdum def. Antonio Silva via unanimous decision
Gegard Mousasi Def. Sokoudjou via TKO Round 2
Jake Shields Def. Jason Miller via unanimous decision
Fedor Emelianenko Def. Brett Rogers via TKO Round 2


Preliminary Card
Marlos Coenen def. Roxanne Modafferi via submission (armbar) - Round 1
Jeff Curran def. Dustin Neace via submission (injury) - Round 1
Shamar Bailey def. John Kolosci via unanimous decision 
Nate Moore def. Louis Taylor via submission (strikes) - Round 2
Christian Uflacker def. Jonatas Novaes via unanimous decision

Fight Picks: Fedor vs Rogers

MAIN CARD

Fedor Emelianenko vs. Brett Rogers
Can Rogers overcome the Fed-Aura of Fedor and pull of the upset?  He unquestionably has heavy hands which gives him a punchers chance, but I see Fedor as too tall a task for Rogers. Fedor takes this one via submission as soon as he wakes from his pre-fight nap.
 
Jason "Mayhem" Miller vs. Jake Shields (for vacant Strikeforce middleweight title)
Jake Shields has been able to impose his will on everyone he has faced since 2004 because of his normally superior Jiu Jitsu.  In this fight he is not going to have as much of an edge on the ground, as Miller is no slouch on the mat.  I give this one to "Mayhem" via UD.

Gegard Mousasi vs. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (non-title match)
I see no other ending to this than Gegard's hand raised after the stoppage.  Mousasi via KO early on. 

Antonio Silva vs. Fabricio Werdum
This is the toughest test Antonia Silva has faced yet, but I beleive his ground prowess will nullify Werdum's Jiu Jitsu and give him the win via TKO.

PRELIMINARY CARD

Marloes Coenen vs. Roxanne Modafferi (CBS reserve fight)
Coenen was being touted as the next in line for Cyborg's 145lb title fight, but she gets a tough vet in Roxanne Modafferi. This is the second fight between the two in which Modafferi took the first via controversial decision.  Still, I see the Golden Glory standout Coenen overcome on the matt by Roxanne as she takes this one via submission. 

Jeff Curran vs. Dustin Neace
Jeff Curran comes in for his first post-WEC bout to take on Dustin Neace who has recorded almost as many losses as wins in his fight career so far, and has not faced the kind of opposition Curran is accustomed to.
Curran via TKO. 

Shamar Bailey vs. John Kolosci
Former TUF contestant John Kolosci rides a three-fight win streak into this contest against the explosive, but untested Shamar Bailey. I'm going to go with Kolosci via decision. 

Deray Davis vs. Mark Miller
Miller via TKO
Nate Moore vs. Louis Taylor
Taylor via K.O
Jonatas Novaes vs. Christian Uflacker
Noveas via submission


Strikeforce Fedor vs Rogers airs this Saturday on CBS

Miller vs. Shields For Strikeforce Title

Jason "Mayhem" Miller recently posted up the news at myfightteam.com that he will be taking on Jake Shields for the Strikeforce Interim Middleweight Championship belt. Miller was expected to be taking on Jacare at Dream 11 for his next opponent, but it looks as though he has decided to take the Shields fight instead.