TORONTO — For Jake Shields, the interest in fighting Georges St. Pierre came many years ago, before he ever signed his name to a UFC contract, before many people who now classify themselves as MMA fans knew who he was. Shields was already a veteran of the sport, and had quietly amassed a long win streak that resulted in an EliteXC welterweight championship. He won that fight in just 63 seconds, and moments afterward, voiced a hope of one day facing GSP, who was then already the UFC champ.
Wherever St. Pierre was that night, his sixth sense might have been tingling. The Canadian star had for a long time watched and admired Shields from afar, and considered the possibility that they might one day meet. By then they were both champs, but the day he truly realized Shields was elite was in the spring of 2006, when Shields beat both Yushin Okami and Carlos Condit on the same night.
Since even before that time, St. Pierre and Shields have been almost inarguably the best welterweights in the world. Dating back to the start of 2005, the champion has won 14 of 15 fights, and the lone loss, to Matt Serra, has been avenged. The challenger has one-upped him though, coming in with 15 consecutive wins. So as far as they are both concerned, UFC 129‘s main event is a fight that is a long time coming.