Jake Shields – Photo via UFC.com
Team Gracie fighter, Jake Shields (27-6-1) has apparently had enough of the Ultimate Fighting Championships welterweight division.
The former Strikeforce middleweight champ is planning an immediate return to 185-lbs for his next fight despite earning a win over Yoshihiro Akiyama in his welterweight debut last month at UFC 144. So far, Shields has gone 2-2 fighting at 170-lbs with losses to Jake Ellenberger and Georges St-Pierre, while winning his debut over Martin Kampmann.
The move by Shields was announced Tuesday night during a segment on FUEL TV’s UFC Tonight program.
Shields will return to the middleweight division where he captured the Strikeforce title in November 2009 by defeating Jason ‘Mayhem’ Miller at the Fedor vs. Rogers show in Illinois. The submission ace also earned wins over Robbie Lawler and Dan Henderson while competing at middleweight.
The move likely has something to do with friend, and training partner, Nick Diaz who also competes at 170-lbs and is considered one of the top fighters in the division. Despite Diaz recent comments on retiring, many hope to see him back in the cage.
With Shields return to 185-lbs, no opponent has appeared on the radar for the former champ, nor an event date.