Jake Shields Talks Jon Fitch, Fighter Pay Ahead of WSOF 34

Jake Shields Talks Jon Fitch, Fighter Pay Ahead of WSOF 34

Former Strikeforce champion Jake Shields will look to add another title at WSOF 34.

Dec 25, 2016 by Duane Finley
Jake Shields Talks Jon Fitch, Fighter Pay Ahead of WSOF 34
Jake Shields has a career filled with accolades and he’s aiming at one more gold belt for his collection.

The veteran grappler has claimed championships on major stages around the globe and done so in multiple weight classes. Shields has been facing elite competition for the better part of two decades and has amassed a resume that has wins over some of the best fighters to ever compete in the 170-pound division.

While it would be easy for the 37-year-old to rest on past accomplishments, Shields believes so many more moments remained. The Skrap Pack representative is far from crafting his overall body of work in mixed martial arts, and plans to prove he’s still at the top of the game on New Year’s Eve in New York City.

That’s where Shields will face fellow veteran Jon Fitch at WSOF 34 in the Theater at Madison Square Garden. Fitch is the reigning 170-pound champion in the upstart promotion, and Shields intends to put a definitive stamp on 2016.

“I’m excited to get back to it,” Shields said. “I haven’t fought in over a year, which is a long layoff, but I’ve been in this sport a long time and stayed active. I competed in a bunch of submission grappling matches and put in a lot of work to develop new skills. I’m excited and ready to fight again.

“This will definitely be a good addition to my legacy. Fitch is a legend of the sport and a guy who I have a ton of respect for. It will be great to go out there and beat him and add another belt.”

Both challenger and champion have long track records competing inside the cage, there will be an added element of familiarity at WSOF 34. In addition to being staples in the Bay Area MMA scene for years, Shields and Fitch spent several years training together at the American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose.

While several years have passed since those training sessions, Shields believes the same amount of tenacity and mutual respect shared within the walls of that storied gym will be on display at WSOF 34. That said, both men are driven competitors, and Shields is confident gym wars of the past will make for an exciting scrap on New Year’s Eve.

“We’ve trained a good amount together,” Shields said. “We haven’t done so in probably four or five years, but we spent a lot of time in the gym over at AKA. We know each other’s games very well, and we’ve both changed and made additions to our skill sets over the years. That said, there’s only so much changing you can do and I think it’s going to be a good fight.”

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Jul 17, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Jake Shields (right) competes against Chris Lytle in Submission Underground at the Roseland Theater. Shields won the match. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports

Shields is certainly no stranger to competing under the spotlight. The submission ace has been involved in mega-events and high-profile tilts throughout his career, and being part of the biggest card in WSOF’s history is one he believes brings back the “big fight feel” of a must-see showcase.

When promotion is the case often times it is trash-talking or pre-fight dust ups that drive the hype train forward, but Shields doesn’t feel that element is necessary in this case. The card is stacked, the location historic and now it all falls on the fighters to deliver an action-packed affair fans will remember.

“There’s definitely an element in this sport where sh*t talking gets you more attention,” Shields said. “And sometimes I suppose it’s good to sh*t talk in the media and all that, but Jon is a guy, much like myself, who just loves to compete. He loves to fight and loves the sport so he’s definitely not going to be a guy I talk sh*t about. I have a ton of respect for him, but I plan on going out there and beating him.

“This is card is awesome and I love the energy surrounding it. World Series of Fighting is great, but the last few fights just didn’t have the same hype around them. This card takes place in Madison Square Garden with four title fights and it’s definitely a big stage to compete. It feels good to be in this situation and good to be here.”

As a veteran of the sport Shields is also well aware of the transition that seems to be happening across the greater MMA landscape. Now more than ever before fighters are speaking up and challenging the larger promotions for better pay and better treatment across the board, and Shields likes what’s happening in the sport he’s helped build.

While Shields doesn’t believe the answer will be a simple one to find, he’s happy his fellow athletes are starting to stand up and push for more.

“I think what’s happening is a good thing,” Shields said. “Guys have fought for so long and now they are understanding they deserve more money for it. When I first started fighting there was no money in this sport. We did it because we love it. We still all love it, but guys are starting to realize this is a big business now. We want to get paid.

“It’s a tricky issue though because it’s an individual sport so it’s about figuring out what you want and how to do it, but the pay definitely needs to go up. It’s just about finding the right way to do it.”