• UFC 129

St-Pierre has been enjoying my limelight - Shields

ESPN staff
April 15, 2011
Jake Shields ready to begin new era

Jake Shields is out to end years of frustration when he meets Georges St-Pierre at UFC 129 on April 30.

Shields has been a dominant force at 170lbs for over six years, winning his last 15 bouts, including victories over Yushin Okami, Carlos Condit, Paul Daley and Dan Henderson (at middleweight).

However, welterweight champion St-Pierre has the more global reputation due to his lengthy reign in the UFC, where Shields only made his debut in October 2010. Shields is adamant he is the best 170-pounder in the world, and he admits it has been frustrating to hear the name of GSP relentlessly over the past four years.

"Many people expect me to lose, but I have no intention of doing that," said the jiu-jitsu specialist.

"I've wanted to fight GSP for years. I've been on these other shows and everyone is saying GSP is the greatest when I'm over at EliteXC beating everyone else, when I was at Strikeforce beating everyone else.

"I kept winning and winning, and I've been wanting to fight this guy for years."

St-Pierre's motivation has been questioned in the past, when he took his eye off the ball in defeat to Matt Serra, and Shields is convinced the champion will not be as stirred as he will be come fight night.

"To become the UFC welterweight champion would mean everything to me, this is what I've spent the last 11 years pursuing. I'm doing it April 30th. I want to be the best, and you can't say you're the best unless you beat the best."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Close

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices