Jake Shields Comments On His Challenge To GSP/Fitch, Moving Up A Weight Class, More

Posted by Dustin James on 07.29.2008

Shields isn't looking to take some time off........

Jake Shields recently sat down with MMAWeekly.com and spoke on numerous topics such as his challenge to the winner of GSP/Fitch, who he would like to fight next, moving up to middleweight, and more:

On his defeat over Nick Thompson at EliteXC's "Unfinished Business":

"I was prepared for the full 25 minutes, I was in the best shape of my life, but I was hoping to end it in the first so it ended up working. I'm not satisfied yet, I've got a ways to go, won the Elite (XC) title that I'm very proud of, but I want to be considered the best and I know there's some fighters out there ranked above me and I'm not going to be satisfied until I beat them."

On his challenge to face the winner of Georges St. Pierre/Jon Fitch:

"I guess that was a mistake, I just kind of called them out, but that fight realistically won't happen next. Those are two guys I'd really love to fight right now. Two of the top guys at my weight, I've got a lot of respect for both of them, that's why I want to fight them."

On who he would like to face next:

"I'd like to fight (Drew) Fickett, he's been running his mouth and that fight was supposed to happen, I still wouldn't mind that one. (Shinya) Aoki is a fight I've wanted for a while, he just lost, but he still has quite a resume on him. They've got Akira Kikuchi, which was actually my last loss, they could possibly bring in him."

On possibly moving up to middleweight:

"I'm willing to fight up a weight. I'd fight Robbie Lawler, Frank Shamrock, if Elite wants me to do something like that, I'd be happy to do that."

Shields also mentioned that he would like to fight again as soon as possible, possibly even at the next EliteXC on CBS show on October 4.

You can read the entire interview here.