To compete at an event as monumental as UFC 144, there are certainly a few fighters feeling nervous prior to their respective bouts, but no other fighter is in a worse position than Jake Shields.
The former Strikeforce middleweight champion has gone 1-2 since his UFC debut last year and could be on the verge of being released if he is to come up short against Yoshihiro Akiyama.
It would be disappointing to see a talented fighter such as Shields be cut from the promotion when he boasts more than enough qualities to still make him a formidable threat in either the welterweight division or middleweight division.
Shields was widely regarded as one of the best 170-pound fighters after gathering wins over fighters like Dan Henderson, Carlos Condit and Paul Daley. In addition, he owned a 15-fight winning streak and was undefeated for nearly five years.
His fight against Akiyama will prove whether he can still remain a contender in the stacked 170-pound division while still competing against the likes of Jake Ellenberger, Jonny Hendricks and current champion Georges St-Pierre.
Shields’ intention should be to get the bout to the ground as soon as possible to keep it to his advantage.
While his services could be more well-suited to the middleweight division, if Shields is unable to get the win at UFC 144, his status as a top contender will be in question, and certainly so will his future in the sport altogether.
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