It's still not clear what will become of all the fighters who were under contract to EliteXC when that promotion went out of business, but the EliteXC welterweight champion, Jake Shields, thinks he's going to sign with UFC. Not only that, he sounds like he thinks he'll be on the fast track to a title shot against UFC welterweight champ Georges St. Pierre.
Shields is also upbeat about his future. He predicts he'll land with the UFC, whose president Dana White has shown interest in him.
"For me, I'm looking for top competition," Shields said. "I want to prove I'm the best fighter in the world. Georges St. Pierre, it's an opportunity to fight him and show I'm the best. ...
"I think I'm gonna be the top 170-pounder there. I wanna be the best. I wanna go there and take the belt," Shields said. "I wouldn't be happy with anything less."
I'm extremely skeptical that Shields would beat St. Pierre, or B.J. Penn, or Thiago Alves, either of whom could be the UFC welterweight champ when and if Shields is in position to fight for a UFC title. But I would be interested in seeing Shields take on a UFC welterweight like Jon Fitch, Josh Koscheck, or Diego Sanchez, and if Shields gets a win or two in the Octagon against Top 10 competition, he'd earn a title shot.
Mostly, I just want this whole silly EliteXC affair to end, so that these fighters can finally get on with their careers. That's what Shields wants, too.
Jake Shields Expects to Sign With UFC, Thinks He Can Beat Georges St. Pierre originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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