Jake Shields vs. Robbie Lawler

Jake Shields has been pulled from his bout with Joe Riggs so he can take on Robbie Lawler at an upcoming Strikeforce event. More information after the jump...

A bout between former EliteXC welterweight champion Jake Shields (22-4-1) and former EliteXC middleweight title-holder Robbie Lawler (16-4) will headline Strikeforce's May show, company officials today announced at a press conference in Los Angeles.

The two fighters recently joined Strikeforce after the organization acquired select assets from ProElite Inc., the parent company of the now-defunct EliteXC organization.

Shields told MMAjunkie.com the fight will take place at a catch-weight of 182 pounds.

No date or location has been confirmed for the May event, though the show is expected to take place in or near Seattle. An announcement is expected soon.

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Jake Shields Interview

Ben Zeidler recently spoke with EliteXC star Jake Shields about his big wins over Carlos Condit and Hayato Sakurai, being a fighter while having a daughter, and oh yeah, his open challenge to Georges St. Pierre.

Ben Zeidler: You were born in San Luis Obispo, California. Is that how you got involved with Liddell's SLO Kickboxing Academy?

Jake Shields: Well, I was actually born closer to the Sierras…

Ben Zeidler: Wikipedia gets me again.

JS: (Laughs) So yeah, I was born up there but I moved down to San Luis Obispo for college. I started working out at Liddell’s gym when he wasn’t well known at all.

Ben Zeidler: How'd you make the transition from wrestling and grappling tournaments to mixed martial arts?

JS: I wrestled all throughout high school and college. I was with Liddell for just a few weeks before he had me doing kickboxing and some MMA stuff. All of a sudden, I was fighting real fights.

Ben Zeidler: You're a shooto world champion. For those who don’t know what that is or what it entails, can you tell us a little bit about that?

JS: Sure, shooto is worldwide and its one of the oldest organizations out there. It’s even older than the UFC. It’s not quite MMA, but it is still a combat sport and it’s very respected in the world. I was the first American to win a shooto belt.

Ben Zeidler: You've beaten some of the biggest guys in the sport, from Carlos Condit to Hayato Sakurai. What would you call the biggest win of your career?

JS: I haven’t had it yet. I’m just getting started here and before I’m done I plan on being the best.

Ben Zeidler: Are you happy with EliteXC or would you ever consider a jump to the UFC?

JS: I mean, I’m always looking at my options and I just want to fight the best. Elite has been really good to be so I have loyalties there, but I do want to continually be upping the competition that I face.

Ben Zeidler: Do you have any upcoming fights booked?

JS: Nothing is signed yet, but I’m looking to fight in March or early April at a couple of different venues.

Ben Zeidler: Who do you want to fight?

JS: It’s sort of out of my hands, but if I could choose, I’d say GSP. He’s my number 1 pick.

Ben Zeidler: You haven't lost in over three years. What in your training is responsible for this recent success?

JS: It’s a combination of things. I just trained really hard, for starters. I never feel like I’m good enough either. I feel like I gassed in my last fight, even though I won, so I’m working on cardio. You can’t beat cardio. I’m learning new techniques, new submissions, and new things. It’s a sport where there’s always so much more to learn.

Ben Zeidler: You're still just 27 years old. Have you hit your peak?

JS: I still feel really young and I have a few years before I hit my peak. I don’t want to retire as long as I want to keep fighting.

Ben Zeidler: I’m sorry, I gotta go back to that GSP comment. How would a fight like that even happen?

JS: Hopefully, the organizations can work together to make it happen. Either I could go to the UFC or he could come here. I really want to see how we can make this work.

Ben Zeidler: You're involved with Fairtex-Gracie in SF and Tulsa Top Team. Can you tell us a little bit about those organizations?

JS: Well my main trainers run MMA programs at Fairtex. That’s kinda my own group over there. At Tulsa Top Team, it’s just some guys who train with me.

Ben Zeidler: Let’s change gears for a second. How's your daughter doing? How has life changed for you since having a child?

JS: My daughter is great but lots of work, so I’m always training but I’m trying to do fewer trips. She’s in first grade now, so it’s just cool to have a daughter.

Ben Zeidler: That’s gotta be interesting when she tells her friends parents that her dad fights for a living.

JS: Yeah, she knows I’m a fighter and she grew up watching it so to her, it’s nothing unusual. I’ve never brought her to a fight but she’s seen some jiu-jitsu tournaments. Eventually, she’ll realize that I don’t have a normal job, but it’s just what I do.

Ben Zeidler: Any sponsors you'd like to thank or websites you’d like to plug?

JS: JakeShields.com. I’d like to thank Fairtex, Stagger, Dominant, and…I know there’s more. Who else? I’m spacing on one (laughs)…they’ll be mad.

Ben Zeidler: Anything to say to your fans?

JS: Just thanks for all the support and keep watching me because I’m gonna do some big things.

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Kimbo, Shields Roll In EliteXC Event

Kimbo Slice ended his fight just 19 seconds into the first round while highly-touted Welterweight Jake Shields won with a first round rear naked choke. Nick Diaz lost his 160 pound title fight due to excessive cuts at the end of the first round. Complete event results below...

The following are quick-match results from the EliteXC "Renegade" show, which aired live on the Showtime premium cable network on Saturday, November 10, 2007:

-Jae Suk Lim def. Daniel Pineda via Submission (rear naked choke) at 2:42 of Round 1.
-Brett Rogers def. Ralph Kelly via Submission (strikes) at 1:43 of Round 1.
-Matt Lucas def. Jon Kirk via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after 3 Rounds.
-Yves Edwards def. Nick Gonzalez via Submission (rear naked choke) at 3:05 of Round 1.
-Geoff Bumstead def. Robert Ruiz via Submission (rear naked choke) at 1:30 of Round 1.
-Antonio Silva def. Jonathan Wiezorek via Submission (rear naked choke) at 3:12 of Round 1.
-Kyle Noke def. Seth Kleinbeck via TKO (cut stoppage) at 4:22 of Round 2.
-Jake Shields def. Mike Pyle via Submission (rear naked choke) at 3:39 of Round 1.
-Kimbo Slice def. Bo Cantrell via Submission (punch) at 0:19 of Round 1.
-K.J. Noons def. Nick Diaz via TKO (doctor stoppage - cuts) after Round 1 to become the EliteXC Lightweight Champion

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