Tag: MMA Media News

Strikeforce and it’s middleweight champ Jake Shields (25-4-1) have gone their separate ways according to the fighters father and manager who spoke to Sherdog.com. Jack Shields was informed by the promotion on Wednesday that they would be releasing the middleweight champion from his contract.

“In the conversation we had today, they said they felt that Jake was leaning towards the UFC. Honestly, we were talking to them with an open mind, though Jake wants to fight the best,” said the elder Shields. “Between Strikeforce and EliteXC, Jake had the chance to fight on Showtime and CBS four or five times against some top fighters like Dan Henderson and Robbie Lawler. Strikeforce gave him great opportunities and exposure. They’ve been nothing but great for Jake.”

Shields is now free to negotiate with the UFC and it’s President Dana White, who has been actively seeking to add the fighter to the fold. The senior Shields has already given the UFC their asking price and will pursue fights in the middleweight and welterweight divisions. If both sides come to an agreement, Shields already has his eye’s set on debuting against the promotions middleweight champion Anderson Silva.

“We didn’t come to agreement with Strikeforce, but Jake’s excited to challenge himself against the likes of Anderson Silva and others in the UFC,” said Jake Shields.

Fans could very well be treated to the announcement of Shields signing by the UFC as part of this weekends UFC 116 event, here’s hoping we’ll get the chance to see Shields in the octagon soon.

UFC middleweight fighter Chris Leben (20-6) said it was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up after being offered the fight against Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC 116, after an injury forced Wanderlei Silva from the bout with the Japanese fighter.

“It’s a great fight and an opportunity I couldn’t pass up,” said Leben, who wasn’t exactly feeling that way when he initially got the call from the UFC on the Monday after his fight to replace the injured Wanderlei Silva against Akiyama.

“I woke up and I was all sore, and Joe (Silva) was already calling me,” said Leben. “He asked me to fight and I said no way. But the more I thought about it, I’m a fighter, that’s what I do. I’d be mad at myself if I passed this opportunity up. This is what I do. I’ll have plenty of opportunity to take a vacation after July 3rd.”

Leben and Akiyama meet in the co-main event of “UFC 116: Lesnar vs. Carwin” in Las Vegas, Nev. at the MGM Grand Garden Arena this Saturday.

HT: UFC.com

The UFC may be looking to match Antônio Rogério “Lil Nog” Nogueira (19-3) and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson (30-8) against one another this September according to Nogueira’s boxing coach Luis Carlos Dórea.

Dórea spoke to Tatame.com and fell short of confirming an agreement to face the former UFC light-heavyweight champion.

“It’s set that he’ll be back in September, and rumors point that his opponent might be Quinton Jackson. It’d be a great fight for Rogério, he’s a former UFC champion and a victory over him will move us pretty close to the title. The UFC only has top athletes and Quinton Jackson is really dangerous. It’d be a great fight, but the UFC didn’t confirmed anything yet”, Dórea said.

There had been some talk about matching Jackson against Lyoto Machida, but it isn’t something “Rampage” wants as he’s looking to face a more exciting opponent and may have one in “Lil Nog.”