• UFC 129

Shields predicts submission victory over St-Pierre

Jake Shields fears nobody on the ground © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Shields will be distracted by hype - GSP's trainer
  
• News: St-Pierre doesn't want to become Roy Jones Jnr
  
• News: St-Pierre 'definitely considering' Silva fight - Marquardt
  
• News: All five prelims from UFC 129 to be shown on Facebook
  
• News: If Shields wins the belt, he'll consider moving to 185
  
• News: Shields vows to be better than in his Henderson win
  
• News: Welterweight stars queue up to back GSP victory
  
• News: St-Pierre has been enjoying my limelight - Shields
  
• News: 55,000 people won't be able to help GSP - Shields
  
• News: St-Pierre 'not afraid' to mix it with Shields on the mat
  
• Profile: Georges St-Pierre

For all the latest UFC talking points, including news on UFC Rio and an exclusive chat with Gray Maynard, don't miss the next ESPN UFC Podcast on Tuesday

Jake Shields is confident he holds a grappling advantage over Georges St-Pierre, and he believes the UFC welterweight champion has to keep the fight upright when the pair collide at UFC 129.

St-Pierre's outstanding career has been pinned on his explosive takedown offence, as well as his ability to control opponents from top position. Dan Hardy, Thiago Alves and BJ Penn have all been defeated in such manner during a string of five consecutive title defences.

However, the arrival of Shields - who is undefeated in 15 fights - is likely to see GSP revert to the striking game that saw off the likes of Josh Koscheck and Jon Fitch. Shields is a phenomenal jiu-jitsu practitioner and, even though St-Pierre claims he is not afraid of a ground war, Shields is adamant there will only be one winner in that area of the fight.

"It's going to be an all out war but I see myself winning," the challenger told MMACanada.net. "I'm not going out there to give him a good fight; I'm going out there to be the UFC champ.

"I think the wrestling is pretty much even. I think I have the superiority in the submission [game] over him though.

"I think I'm going to submit him. I know he's not easy to submit, but I'm going to be hunting for submissions from every angle. I think he'll take me down, I think I'll be on my back this fight, but I can fight off my back."

The only man to have submitted GSP in his MMA career is Matt Hughes, whom St-Pierre has since beaten on two occasions.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.