Shields the Golden Boy, Not Kimbo

EliteXC's relentless marketing machine, fueled by Kimbo Slice, has done a great job of distorting the truth to fair weathered MMA fans across the United States.  On the surface their marketing strategy would lead you to believe that Slice is one of the top MMA fighters in the world and clearly the best EliteXC fighter on their roster.

 

In reality, Slice wouldn't even crack the top 30 in the world at heavyweight.  He's not even the best fighter under contract with EliteXC.  Peel back the marketing facade and you'll quickly find out that this distinction belongs to welterweight Jake Shields.

 

Shields is essentially a silent superstar, a top five caliber fighter in the world in his weight class, that nine out of ten MMA fans could not tell you more than a sentence about.  

 

When Jake Shields steps into the octagon July 26, 2008 for the EliteXC: Unfinished Business event at the Stockton Arena in Stockton, CA to take on Nick Thompson, he'll be presented with the opportunity of a lifetime.  The winner will be crowned as the first ever EliteXC welterweight champion.

 

Shields, as previously mentioned, is one of the best 170 pound fighters in all of MMA.  He's currently ranked as the #4 welterweight in the world according to Top Gun MMA.  He's ranked only behind current UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre, Jon Fitch, and Thiago Alves.

 

He is currently 20 - 4 - 1 in his career and he's currently on a nine match winning streak.  Over the past few years he has put together a very impressive resume in MMA. 

 

He's won the U.A.G.F. Fighting North American Championship, the Midwest Fighting Superfight Championship, the Gladiator Challenge Welterweight Championship, the Shooto America's and Pacific Rim Championship, the Shooto Middleweight Championship, and the Rumble at the Rock Welterweight Championship.    

 

That means he's gone toe-to-toe with some of the best MMA fighters in the world and has been extremely successful.  His list of victims includes Yushin Okami, Mike Pyle, current WEC welterweight champion Carlos Condit, and former Shooto middleweight champion Hayato Sakurai. 

 

In 2005 he also beat Diego Sanchez at the ADCC World Championships and Jon Fitch at the Gracie Open Superfight Championships, however, neither counted towards his professional MMA record.   

 

His biggest strengths are his grappling and submission skills.  He is one of the best in the world on the ground.  He's been wrestling since the age of 9, was a state qualifier in high school, and also a two-time All-American wrestler at Cuesta College. 

 

On the other hand, his jiu-jitsu is world class.  He's a black belt in Gracie jiu-jitsu under Cesar Gracie and a former Pan Am jiu-jitsu Champion.  His jiu-jitsu is so good that he has even trained other great MMA fighters like Gilbert Melendez. 

 

His training for his upcoming fight against Nick Thompson has been taking place at the Freestyle Submission Academy in San Francisco, CA.  This is where Shields is putting the finishing touches on his game plan.   

 

Earning the EliteXC welterweight belt will indeed be a great honor if he is able to defeat Thompson, however, there is much more to be gained. 

 

With the event being televised on CBS Shields will get the chance to showcase his abilities to MMA fans across the United States. 

 

Most importantly, he'll get to turn the spotlight on himself and away from Kimbo Slice.  He can employ his own marketing strategy and do a little self promotion. 

 

He has the opportunity to literally take matters into his own hands. 

 

 

 

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Derek Bolender covers mixed martial arts for Top Gun MMA.  He is a graduate of Illinois State University and has also covered MMA for Bleacher Report.  Send Derek a question or comment for potential use in a future article to dbeastbo@yahoo.com. 

Sat Jul 12, 2008

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