We're Back!

After 6 months of being away, we're back. I'm back, Jordan's back, the interviews are back, and everything you missed while we were away is back.

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THANKS!

After nearly a year of consistent content, 40+ interviews, 200k hits, and lots of fun, it's time to say goodbye to Irish Whip Fighting. This will be my last post on the site. However, I don't plan on leaving our loyal readers high and dry. Just the opposite, actually. Irish Whip Fighting has joined forces with a terrific staff over at MMA Madness. I'll be managing all of their content, so hop on over to my new home and continue to enjoy what we started here at IWF. Thanks again for all the support! Also, big thanks to Martial Base and BetUS who helped us get off the ground.

-Ben, Jordan, Danny, and everyone else who has helped out over the past year

Be sure to check out more of my work at FIGHT! Magazine, TapouT Magazine, HDNet's Inside MMA, and soon...sherdog.com and ESPN.com

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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 Dominates In Wild EliteXC Event

As the lower bowl filled with raucous fans, it was easy to tell that this was not your typical, clean UFC event. Two stoppages and one knockout later, Kimbo had passed his first true test in mixed martial arts.

Kimbo Slice defeats Tank by knockout at 0:43 of round one.

Antonio Silva defeats Ricco Rodriguez by split decision.

Scott Smith defeats Kyle Noke by knockout at 0:07 of round 2.

Brett Rogers defeats James Thompson by technical knockout via strikes.

Yves Edwards defeats Edson Berto by knockout via knee at 4:56 of round one.

Rafael Feijao defeats John Doyle by technical knockout via knee at 2:17 of round one.

Yosmany Cabezas defeats John Kirk by submission via rear naked choke at 0:58 of round two.

Dave Herman defeats Mario Rinaldi by technical knockout via strikes at 0:33 of round three.

Eric Bradley defeats Mikey Gomez by unanimous decision.

Lorenzo Borgameo defeats Mike Bernhard by submission via triangle choke at 4:11 of round two.

Moyses Gabin defeats Jirka Hlavaty by technical knockout via strikes at 2:32 of round one.

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