This week Jake takes us through a move he calls the “Bas Rutten Body Crank.” He saw Bas do this move in a Pancrase match and has since incorporated it into his game. He shows this move from the head and arm position and also explains the fundamentals of a good head and arm. This is a great move, check it out here!
This week Jake takes us through a move he calls the “Bas Rutten Body Crank.” He saw Bas do this move in a Pancrase match and has since incorporated it into his game. He shows this move from the head and arm position and also explains the fundamentals of a good head and arm. This is a great move, check it out here!
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“Ruthless” Robbie Lawler of St. Louis will defend the EliteXC middleweight title against Scott “Hands of Steel” Smith of Sacramento in the main event on the second primetime broadcast of CBS ELITEXC SATURDAY NIGHT FIGHTS on Saturday, July 26, (9 p.m.-11 p.m. ET/PT).
In a second world title fight, Jake Shields of San Francisco and Nick “The Goat” Thompson of Minneapolis will collide for the vacant EliteXC 170-pound belt.
Stockton’s Nick Diaz will face Thomas “Wildman’’ Denny of Victorville, Calif., in a lightweight match and Shayna “The Queen Of Spades” Baszler of Sioux Falls, S.D., will take on Brazil’s undefeated Cristiane Cyborg in a women’s fight at 140 pounds at the Stockton Arena in Stockton, Calif.
Tickets start at $35 and can be purchased at the Stockton Arena Box Office (Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.) and Saturday (noon-4 p.m.), by phone at (209) 373-1700 and (866) 373-7088 (toll free) or online at www.stocktontickets.com.
The event is presented by Los Angeles-based ProElite, Inc .’s live fight division, EliteXC. Doors open at 2:30 p.m. PT. The first live fight is at 3:15.
Preceding the two-hour, four-fight broadcast on the CBS Television Network will be a three-fight, one-hour telecast live on SHOWTIME (8 p.m. ET/PT).
In the main event, Antonio “Big Foot” Silva will face Justin Eilers for the EliteXC heavyweight crown. In other SHOWTIME fights, promising Wilson Reis will meet Brian Caraway at 140 pounds and talented Rafael Feijao will be opposed by an opponent to be determined in a light heavyweight fight.
DOUGLAS DELUCA, EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN, PROELITE, INC.
“No doubt about it: Stockton is a great MMA city. In Scott Smith, Jake Shields and, of course, Nick Diaz, we have three local world-class fighters on the card. The Stockton Arena is virtually brand new.
So, picking the city of Stockton for our next CBS show was virtually a no-brainer.
“Everybody is truly excited about July 26. This will be an unbelievably great night of MMA action – on two networks, SHOWTIME and CBS. I think we did a good job of introducing newer fans to the sport of mixed martial arts on May 31 on CBS.
“But I think those in attendance and viewers watching on television are going to maybe get a different side of mixed martial arts this time around. We were pleased with our first CBS venture on May 31 and all of us are ready for round two.”
ROBBIE LAWLER
“Everybody that knows me knows that I take each fight one at a time. This is just another fight for me.
“I watched our first fight one time right after I got back home from New Jersey, but I haven’t watched it since. This is going to be another great fight. We both go out and give our best. My game plan is to adapt. I don’t try to picture what is going to happen inside the cage.
“The fact we have fought each other won’t lend any advantages to either of us. I love to fight and I am looking forward to fighting and defending the title on July 26 in Stockton on CBS.”
SCOTT SMITH
“It’s really exciting to be fighting so close to home. I have friends and family that will be coming in four greyhound buses. It was set up by a bar in Elk Grove. It costs $20 round trip to watch me fight
“I always have a core of friends at my fights. I had 16 in New Jersey and 12 in Miami, but never anything like this.
“I am really looking forward to fighting Lawler again. I look back at our first fight and all the things I did wrong and that alone has given me more confidence. I know I can fight better than I did last time. My head movement was terrible and I got hit way too much.
“I expected Lawler to come out more aggressively but he fought a very intelligent fight. I’m known as a slow starter and he wound up taking me apart in the first round. I had a bad game plan and he took advantage.
“Each fight gets more and more exciting for me. The fact that I am on CBS again is totally awesome. I learned a lot in my first fight and I am very confident I will win. Then, maybe we can fight a third time.
“Health wise, I am 100 percent. There’s no question in my mind that I could have continued our first fight.’’
JAKE SHIELDS
“I feel really good and have been working very hard for a long time. The fact that my title shot is finally here is as good as it can get for me. Being on CBS only makes it that much more exciting. This fight card will give all of us a lot of exposure.
“I respect Nick. He is definitely a tough fighter, but I have fought a lot of tough guys throughout my career. We’re both on nice winning streaks, but one has to end and I don’t plan on it being my mine.
“This is my first fight in nine months, which is the second longest layoff in my career. (But) I am totally healthy. The lower back injury that kept my out of training for three months is fine. I am raring to go.
“The Stockton Arena is a great place for fights and it will be exciting for me to fight in front of so many friends and family, who will be making the trip down from San Francisco.”
FEMALE MMA STANDOUTS SHAYNA BASZLER AND CRISTIANE CYBORG ADDED TO THE CARD FOR SECOND PRIMETIME BROADCAST
OF “CBS ELITEXC SATURDAY NIGHT FIGHTS” SATURDAY, JULY 26
ON THE CBS TELEVISION NETWORK
SHOWTIME To Televise Three Live Fights Preceding CBS Broadcast,
Inc luding EliteXC Heavyweight Championship
Featuring Antonio “Big Foot” Silva vs. Justin Eilers
The female bout between Shayna Baszler of Sioux Falls, S.D. and Brazil’s Cristiane Cyborg has been added to the lineup for the second primetime broadcast of CBS ELITEXC SATURDAY NIGHT FIGHTS, live from the Stockton Arena in Stockton, Calif. on Saturday, July 26 (9:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.
Baszler and Cyborg, who are fighting in the 140 pound weight class, complete the primetime matchups for the CBS ELITEXC SATURDAY NIGHT FIGHTS on July 26. Other CBS fights include:
· “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler vs. Scott “Hands of Steel” Smith (for EliteXC Middleweight title)
· Jake Shields vs. Nick Thompson (for EliteXC Welterweight title)
· Nick Diaz vs. Thomas “Wildman” Denny (Lightweights)
Nicknamed “The Queen Of Spades,” the talented Baszler is 9-4 and has won her last four starts. All of Baszler’s victories have come via submission; her last four outings ended in the first round.
Regarded as one of the roughest and toughest women in MMA, Cyborg has a record of 4-0. This will be the United States debut for Cyborg, who has scored first-round technical knockouts in her last three fights.
SHOWTIME will televise three live fights preceding the CBS broadcast from 8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT including:
● Antonio “Big Foot” Silva vs. Justin Eilers (for EliteXC Heavyweight title)
● Wilson Reis vs. Brian Caraway (140 lb. weight class)
● Rafael Feijao vs. TBD (light heavyweight fight)
On July 9, 2004 Jake Shields defeated Ray Cooper by rear naked choke in Honolulu, Hawaii.
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o r i g i n a l M M A a p p a r e l
available here
Pre-Sale Continues Today For a Fantastic MMA Card That Inc ludes Lawler-Smith Rematch,
Shields-Thompson EliteXC Title Fight, Diaz-Denny, ‘Big Foot’ Silva and Much, Much More
LOS ANGELES (June 26, 2008) – Fans seeking to participate in the most significant sporting event in the recent history of Stockton, Calif. — an exciting evening of mixed martial arts, which includes two EliteXC world title fights — have the opportunity to reserve their seats now.
Tickets, starting at $35 for the Saturday, July 26 fight card at the Stockton Arena go on sale tomorrow/this Friday, June 27. The pre-sale for tickets continued today/Thursday, June 26. The fight card is presented by Los Angeles-based ProElite, Inc .’s live fight division, EliteXC.
Tickets can be purchased at the Stockton Arena Box Office (Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.) and Saturday (noon-4 p.m.), by phone at (209) 373-1700 and (866) 373-7088 (toll free) or online at www.stocktontickets.com. Doors open at 2:30 p.m. PT. The first live fight is at 3:15.
“We’re looking forward to staging this tremendous event at the beautiful Stockton Arena,’’ said Douglas DeLuca, Executive Chairman, ProElite, Inc. “Local fans not only will get a chance to watch some of the best fighters in EliteXC, but some of the best in the world.
“With so many fighters from the area — Nick Diaz ( Stockton ), Scott Smith (Elk Grove) and Jake Shield ( San Francisco ) — Stockton is a perfect fit. We’ll rock the arena and sell it out. This show will appeal to new and established fans, whether they’re in attendance or watching on television.
“The record-breaking numbers for the history-making May 31 CBS telecast said it all. There definitely is a place and a primetime audience for mixed martial arts on network TV. May 31 was a ratings success and Saturday, July 26, on CBS — and SHOWTIME — will be one too. We’re all excited about our lineup for Stockton and working with CBS and SHOWTIME again.’’
EliteXC was the first to present mixed martial arts on a premium network (SHOWTIME) and in primetime on network television (CBS). On Saturday, July 26, EliteXC will offer back-to-back CBS and SHOWTIME telecasts.
The second half of the televised card will be the second mixed martial arts event shown live in primetime on network television.
CBS ELITEXC SATURDAY NIGHT FIGHTS will air live on the CBS Television Network at 9-11 p.m. ET/PT. The inaugural May 31 broadcast was a ratings success, peaking at 6.51 million viewers.
A four-fight, two-hour CBS broadcast will be preceded by a three-fight, one-hour telecast live on SHOWTIME (8 p.m. ET/PT), which has televised MMA since February 2007. A fight featuring promising heavyweight Antonio “Big Foot” Silva (10-1) will highlight the show.
EliteXC middleweight champion “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler (15-4, 1 NC) of Granite City, Ill., via St. Louis, by way of Davenport, Iowa, and Scott “Hands of Steel” Smith (13-4, 1 NC) will clash in an eagerly awaited rematch in the main event of “Saturday Night Fights: Lawler-Smith II’’ on CBS.
In a second world title fight, Jake Shields (20-4-1) and Nick Thompson (36-9-1) will collide for the vacant EliteXC 170-pound belt. Both fighters are on a roll. Shields has won nine in a row. Thompson, of Minneapolis , has won 12 straight and 21 of 22. Shields hasn’t lost in more than three years, Thompson in more than two. The world title fights are scheduled for five, five-minute rounds.
With a likely grudge rematch with EliteXC lightweight champion KJ Noons hanging in the balance, hometown hero Nick Diaz will seek his third victory in three months when he faces Thomas “Wildman’’ Denny (26-16) in one of the two, three-round, five-minute scraps on CBS.
Other matchups will be announced in the near future. Fans can watch pre- and post-fight interviews at ProElite.com (see Fighter Pages below).
The crowd-pleasing Lawler and the hard-hitting Smith fought May 31 on CBS in Newark, N.J. To the dismay of the fighters and some fans, a hotly contested, dead even fight seemingly on its way to becoming an instant classic ended in a controversial No Contest.
A thriller in which both had won a round was halted, some insist prematurely, at 3:26 of the third round after Smith was accidentally poked in the eye and deemed unable to continue. Despite his pleas to the contrary, the fight was called by cage-side doctors.
A disappointing, unsatisfactory conclusion made an immediate rematch almost automatic. Lawler and Smith do indeed have unfinished business.
“I’m looking forward to fighting him again,’’ said the soft-spoken, serious-minded Lawler, who captured the EliteXC 185-pound belt with a dramatic, convincing third-round TKO (strikes) over defending champion Murilo “Ninja” Rua on Sept. 15, 2007, in Honolulu on SHOWTIME.
“Smith is a tough guy, but I felt pretty good out there and thought I was winning. It’s too bad it ended that way.’’
Said Smith, who owns a gym in Sacramento: “Neither one of us wanted the fight to end that way, so we definitely have some unfinished business we need to take care of. I wanted to continue fighting. I’m more confident going into this rematch than I was going into the first fight. It will be exciting fighting so close to home. Elk Grove is literally just a few minutes from Stockton.’’
Fighting twice in seven weeks will not be a factor for Lawler. “Timing-wise, it is fine for me,’’ said a determined, dedicated, always dangerous southpaw who is known for aggressiveness and a swing-for-the-fences style, but has performed with intelligence and poise in recent outings.
“I was good for the last one, but I’ll be great for this one,” Lawler added. “I’ll be faster and stronger. I’ve been in the gym almost every day since the first fight. Every fight for me is equal to the other. They are all big, at the time. I’m ready to go.’’
Smith is a “freestyle” fighter and knockout artist who comes out throwing bombs with an abandon that’s made him a huge fan favorite. Aptly nicknamed “Hands Of Steel’’ — he’s a union field foreman in his family’s steel business – Smith has won 13 of his 15 fights by KO or TKO.
But one of the most dangerous strikers in the business also owns a strong wrestling background and possesses terrific cardio. “I train hard in all aspects of the game,’’ Smith said.
Smith, who says the foot he injured against Lawler is “100 percent,’’ detests fights that go the distance. So one only can imagine what he may have been thinking when the fight with Lawler ended like it did. “Not once did I ever say, ‘I want to stop this fight’ ’’ Smith said.
“I’m too smart and experienced for that. I was just blown away when it was stopped.’’
The Shields-Thompson matchup to decide the first EliteXC welterweight belt-holder should be a fantastic technical fight between two of the best all-around fighters in the world at 170. Those tuning in to CBS will see a different-type style matchup than they saw on May 31.
For Shields, a life-long vegetarian who was raised in a remote area in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of Northern California, the shot at the EliteXC crown has been a long time coming.
“This is my dream come true. I’m really excited,’’ said Shields, a former college wrestler at San Francisco State and now a Cesar Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt. Shields has notable triumphs over Yushin Okami, Dave Menne, Hayato Sakurai and Carlos Condit.
“This is really a great fight. Nick’s definitely a great opponent. I respect him. He’s experienced, game and very tough. It’ll be exciting fighting so close to home in Stockton in front of friends and family, but I know I will have my work cut out.’’
Due to a couple of postponements and a back injury, Shields will be making his first start since he defeated Mike Pyle at EliteXC’s event on Nov. 10, 2007 on SHOWTIME.
“There will be no excuses. My back is 100 percent,” said Shields, who’s unbeaten since December 2004. “I struggled with it a lot longer than I wanted, but I knew if I was patient and did the right things my time would come. In a way it was a blessing. Now, I am more motivated than ever.”
Thompson is the third fighter from Minneapolis to appear on CBS, joining Brett Rogers and Kaitlin Young, who fought on the historic May 31 event.
The last Bodog welterweight belt-holder, Thompson is experienced and certainly no easy mark. For sure, his work rate can’t be faulted. Amazingly, this will be his 47th fight since he turned pro less than five and half years ago. He hasn’t been defeated since April 2006. In his last start, he scored a second-round submission (kimura) over Michael Costa on June 8, 2008.
“A fight with Jake has been my No. 1 choice for a long time,” said Thompson, who owns a victory over highly regarded Eddie Alvarez and also has whipped the likes of Chris Wilson, Josh Neer and Brian Gassaway. “I think we both wanted this fight. That the fight is on CBS is a huge opportunity exposure-wise and an added bonus.’’
Diaz is a true hard-core MMA fighter who’s willing to “fight anybody who thinks they’re better than me.’’ On June 14, he scored a third-round TKO over Muhsin Corbbrey one fight before Noons retained his crown by demolishing Yves Edwards in 48 seconds on SHOWTIME.
After the Noons’ fight, Diaz was invited inside the cage to discuss a rematch but heated words were exchanged and a scuffle between the fighters’ camps ensued. “I’m not a punk. I did not start it,’’ Diaz said. “Noons is a poser. His side started it. I was just doing my job.’’
Diaz wants desperately to settle the score with Noons, who won their first fight and the EliteXC title by TKO (cuts) on Nov. 10, 2007, on SHOWTIME. It was a result that did not sit well with Diaz or some fans and the smack talk has escalated ever since.
“Everybody knows the deal with Noons and the kind of guy he is,’’ Diaz said. “But my focus is only on this fight. KJ knows his days are numbered. He can’t run from me forever.’’
A colorful fighter known for wild and crazy hairstyles, Denny, of Victorville, Calif., via Huntington Beach, Calif., is a crowd-pleasing, crafty veteran who has won four of his last five.
Denny, who likes to keep it on the ground, specializes in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, wrestling and Muay Thai kickboxing. His self-proclaimed signature moves are “knees and elbows.’’ But, mostly, Denny likes to “give pain. I like to make my opponent suffer.’’
A former King of the Cage champion, Denny is coming off a first-round disqualification victory over Malaipet on March 21, 2008, on ShoXC: Elite Challenger Series. Denny had mostly totally dominated until Malaipet was DQ’d for illegal elbows to the back of the head.
The outspoken, oft-misunderstood Diaz has drawn both criticism and praise for his “tough guy’’ tirades, but Denny does not seem to mind. “I think his antics are entertaining, but it will be more entertaining when I punch him in the face,’’ he said.
Silva is coming off a hard-fought, three-round split decision victory over former champion Ricco Rodriguez on Feb. 16, 2008, on SHOWTIME. Silva, whose initial nine victories had come in the first round, won by the scores of 30-27, 29-28 and 28-29.
“I know I can fight better than I did the last time,’’ said Silva, who possesses excellent striking and grappling skills and moves extremely well for a fighter his size. “My goal is to prove I’m the No. 1 heavyweight in the world. I want that heavyweight title belt.”
the MMA digest and Eternal Unlimited bring you a 26 part “Technique of the Week” video series starring Nick and Nate Diaz, Dave Terrell, Jake Shields and Gilbert Melendez”.
Check out the techniques from these modern day MMA masters at Eternal Unlimited’s site at eternalunlimited.com/themmadigest
On April 21, 2006 Jake Shields defeated Yushin Okami and Carlos Condit to win the Rumble on the Rock tournament in Hawaii.
QUESTION: What are your thoughts on fighting Cung Le, fighting on SHOWTIME at home and defending your title?
SHAMROCK: First of all, welcome everybody, and thanks for your support. Fighting Cung Le in San Jose is an absolute dream, not only for myself, but for the city. It’s really brought our martial arts community together for one common cause. The whole town’s talking about it. It’s probably the biggest thing that’s happened here in a really long time. So I’m really happy to be a part of it.
Cung has been a friend of mine and adversary of mine for a long time. For us to finally get in and mix it up, it’s a beautiful thing.
I also want to thank all the media who supported our charity event March 22 in San Jose for breast cancer. You guys have been absolutely wonderful about it. If you haven’t received information on it, or you want to add more support, please email me at Frank@FrankShamrock.com. Cung Le, you better keep your hands up.
LE: I will.
QUESTION: Cung, what are your thoughts on the fight?
LE: I’d like to thank Strikeforce, Scott Coker, EliteXC and Gary Shaw for putting this fight together. Thank you to Frank for accepting me to challenge you for your title.
I’m just very excited to be part of this event, especially with everyone matched up on this card. I think this is probably the best match‑up of the year and probably going to be the best fight card of the year. I’m looking forward to fighting my heart out, and putting on a show.
QUESTION: Jake, what are your thoughts on the fight?
SHIELDS: First off, I want to thank Gary Shaw for giving me the chance to fight for the title. I’m really excited for the fight. It’s right near my hometown. I’m fighting Drew Fickett, who I think is a great opponent. I’ve got a lot of respect for him. I think me and him should match up well. It should be a great fight.
QUESTION: Drew, what are your thoughts on the fight?
FICKETT: I want to thank Jake for taking this fight. He’s never really ducked anyone. He fights everybody. I think he’s a very underrated fighter. I think stylistically we match up pretty well. I hope we bring the best out of each other. I hope we can push each other, and hopefully I can make it five rounds and do really well.
SHAW: Obviously, I want to thank all the reporters for getting on this call. On March 29 in San Jose, we have a terrific card. Obviously, I don’t have to speak for Frank or Cung or absolutely any of the fighters. They all can speak very well. I believe we have one of the best cards we’ve ever put on.
I’m proud to say I think we’re going to do over a million dollar gate. I believe that we’ll do somewhere around 15,000-17,000 people. That just shows how big this fight is. I mean, we have a great card with Joey Villasenor against Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos, Nick Diaz against Jae Suk Lim, Gilbert Melendez against Gabe Lemley, Jake and Drew and Frank and Cung.
You know, there is a lot at stake here, but especially for Frank Shamrock and Cung Le. I mean, this is truly for the king of the Bay Area and the king of San Jose . One of them is going to walk with his head high that night and through town the next week or two, and the other won’t feel quite as good.
It’s the young against the old. It’s a stylistic fight. Obviously, the most important thing is the health, safety and welfare of every fighter. The most important thing is that everybody walks out of the cage healthy.
This will be a great night for the fans, and a great, great night for all of these fighters, and the best night for MMA. So I thank you all very much.
QUESTION: For both fighters, how long has this fight been in the works? It seems you guys have been talking about fighting each other for a long time. What was your reaction when the fight was finally signed?
LE: I think it’s been about six years. Now, it’s finally happening. I think it’s a good thing for this fight card and this town. I can’t wait to step into the cage against Frank.
SHAMROCK: From my end, Cung Le exaggerates a little bit because we’ve never actually sparred in MMA. We’ve only sparred in his sport of San Sho because, like most people, he’s afraid to go to the ground with me.
But it has been in the works for five or six years. Cung’s a wonderful athlete. And I’ve always viewed him as someone, who, if he learned the art, would make for a good fight.
QUESTION: Jake, you’ve waited a long time for this opportunity. How are you looking at this fight, and the fact that you’re finally getting a shot at the world title?
SHIELDS: First of all, I’m excited I’m finally getting to fight for that title. I’ve been in the sport for a long time. I’ve had some titles in Japan and stuff. But this is one of the most legitimate titles in the world. So I’m excited.
Like I said earlier, Drew’s a really tough opponent, good ground, good stand‑up, so I’m prepared for the war.
SHAW: Drew, to his credit, earned the shot at Jake by beating Mark Weir in Cage Rage. And, obviously, everybody knows Jake’s record, and how long it is since he’s tasted defeat.
QUESTION: Drew, do you think that you have more experience than Jake?
FICKETT: Probably not. He’s probably been fighting as long as me, but he’s fought in Japan and Shooto. I remember when I was beating Sakurai, I was working with my favorite fighters and I was kind of upset with that. I was like oh, Sakurai, I’m so excited. He’s been fighting in bigger shows than I have. So I have to say Jake has more experience.
SHIELDS: Drew has fought a few more shows. We’ve fought about the same amount of time. Experience‑wise, it was pretty good to me.
FICKETT: Were you pretty freaked out when you were watching Sakurai?
SHIELDS: I was so excited. I couldn’t believe I had that opportunity. And to go beat him was really cool.
FICKETT: I just saw that fight the other day. That was a scramble, man.
SHIELDS: Yeah, it was quite an opportunity for me.
QUESTION: Gary, you’ve been making huge strides in mixed martial arts over the past years, signing big fighters, securing network television deals, co‑ promoting with the likes of Strikeforce, putting together this fantastic card with Cung and Fickett and Shields. Is there any reason why you aren’t making a play for a Couture‑Fedor match up, seeing how they’re fair game at this point?
SHAW: That’s a very good question: Until Randy Couture is absolutely out of his contract with UFC, everybody knows me and my reputation. I do not torturously interfere with anybody’s contract or any fighter. I respect the fighter, I respect the contract and, believe it or not, I respect the UFC.
I’ve talked with Fedor. I don’t deny that, but I have not approached Randy Couture and I can’t approach Randy until I know that he’s out of everything with the UFC. But I’d be thrilled to put it on.
QUESTION: When that comes, would you be interested in signing that deal?
SHAW: I would sign it in less than a heartbeat.
COMMENT: Fantastic. Thank you very much, Gary , and good luck with this upcoming fight.
SHAW: Thank you very much. I’m proud to be a part of this with Scott Coker. I think it’s a great, great event. And I’m very, very proud to represent Frank Shamrock.
QUESTION: Frank, not to look past Le by any chance, what do you think about a rematch with Ortiz?
SHAMROCK: Obviously, our main focus is this Cung Le fight. But, yeah, I think it’s a great idea. I think there are a lot of strengths and brand value in some of these old timers like myself and guys like Ken.
Yeah, I’ve been talking to Tito about it and we’re trying to work it out. Hopefully, it will come to fruition. About 10 years after I last whipped him, I plan on whipping him again.
QUESTION: Frank, how do you feel you match up with him now that he’s had all the back problems and such?
SHAMROCK: Well, he’s always been kind of a big bully guy who wrestles well. So I beat him last time on striking when my striking was really terrible. You know, I beat him on striking and conditioning. Now my striking is 10 years more advanced and my conditioning is even better, so I just think I would destroy him. But it would still be a great money fight, and I think it would be a great story and promotional event.
QUESTION: Do you ever feel like you should match‑up with other champions of other organizations that EliteXC has acquired or been in with?
SHAMROCK: Yeah, I’ve got so many belts I don’t have a place to put them. I just stack them up in my gym. So I realized a long time ago that belts don’t mean anything. It’s easier to become a champion than to stay the champion. For me, it’s just a way of life. If they give me a belt, that’s great. If they don’t, I could really care less.
SHAW: Let me just interrupt, because Frank’s on a good point. There comes a time in fighter’s careers that it’s all about the fights. It’s no longer about belts or trinkets.
But at Frank’s stage of his career right now the most important fight he’s got as he said is the one in front of him. And that is Cung Le. After that, there are a lot of big fights out there for Frank.
Obviously, Tito Ortiz would be a big fight and I’m a big fan of Tito’s and hope Tito and I are going to do business together. There is Ken Shamrock out there and brother against brother and bad blood. So there are a lot of fights out there for Frank.
But on behalf of Frank, I want everybody to know that for Frank it’s only about big fights. The biggest belt is the one that I wear around my fat waist. But on a serious note, for Frank, it’s strictly about the big fights at this stage of his career.
SHAMROCK: What Gary said is true. To me it’s about how big we can make a promotion, and how much attention we can draw to it and how well it’s received with the fans. So I’d rather fight a guy like Phil Baroni who can sell a match like nobody else in the world and then take a beating like nobody else in the world, than a champion who can’t put two sentences together and who doesn’t draw a big crowd.
QUESTION: Drew, what kind of fight do you expect?
FICKETT: A pretty exciting fight with a lot of scrambling, lot of striking, lot of ground. I think Jack and I are going to push each other like we haven’t been pushed before, which is going to be good for both of us. I think this is the first time I’ve really been motivated for a fight in last few years.
QUESTION: Jake, do you feel like this is going to be your toughest opponent?
SHIELDS: Definitely up there, one of them. As far as tough opponents it’s definitely one of the toughest. I’ve fought guys like Masaki and I definitely put Drew up there at that level. I’m taking him really seriously. I’m ready for war. Like he said, he’s motivated. When Drew comes in shape looking good, he’s definitely tough.
QUESTION: Cung, what does this fight mean to you and the whole San Jose area?
LE: This is the biggest fight of my career. I think this is one of the biggest fights in San Jose to date. I’m just looking forward to it. I’ve been training so hard for this fight, and I’m looking forward to stepping in the cage against Frank.
Frank’s been around a long time. He’s got a lot of wins against big names like Tito. And I’m looking to match‑up. Frank says he’s going to knock me out in the second round. If Frank chooses to stand, I think we’re going to have a great fight. They’ll put us in that cage and just Rock ‘n’ Roll.
QUESTION: What made such an accomplished kick boxer like you want to try this sport?
LE: Actually it was Frank’s old trainer, and now my trainer, Javier Mendez. He talked me into doing MMA. Back in 2006 he said ‘the time is now, MMA’s about to explode.’ I said, OK, I’ll give it a shot.
Frank and I were on the same card in March two years ago and it was a sellout. I guess there were over 18,000 that showed up. We’re expecting another big show.
Two years later, I’m just fortunate to have the chance to compete for a title and fight someone like Frank. It’s only been two years for me in the MMA game, and I just feel like I came in at the right time. I was at the right place at the right time and have been blessed. Frank gave me the shot, and I’m grateful. I’m going to do everything I can to take that belt away from Frank.
QUESTION: Frank, what did you think about Ken Shamrock’s fight recently at Cage Rage? Can you give your thoughts on that fight?
SHAMROCK: Sure. I was pretty disappointed in his performance. You know, I don’t know if he’s still got the heart of a lion in him. Granted the guy was a little bigger and had some better reach on him.
I know Ken’s skill level and I just think he’s having trouble connecting his desire with his mind and his body and then putting all of that together to be an exciting fighter. I hope he’s still got plenty left in him because I plan on taking a little out of his (butt) as well.
SHAW: He told me he’s got enough to take you, Frank.
SHAMROCK: I sure hope so.
SHAW: On a serious note, he was sick that night. He got some type of stomach ailment, so he didn’t go into the cage 100 percent. But he absolutely told me he’s got enough to take your (butt).
SHAMROCK: (Laughing).
SHAW: All right, you’re laughing.
QUESTION: Jake, you were recently promoted to black belt. Was it mostly a symbolic thing for you, or would you consider it a milestone in your career?
SHIELDS: Mostly a symbolic thing. I’ve been competing in tournaments for years in high levels. I’ve been going to the Black Belt Division. I think I’ve competed at that level for a while, but it’s definitely nice to get the recognition and get the belt from Caesar (Gracie). Everyone knows Caesar doesn’t give out belts easily. Now it’s just me, Nick Diaz and David Charles. There are only three, so it’s quite an honor.
QUESTION: Frank, you said you want keep this fight standing and you want to go for the knockout. Could you tell us why, of all things, you would choose to strike with a striker?
SHAMROCK: Well, you know, I’ve been in this sport for as long as I have because I’ve got to have something to challenge me. I’m an older guy. My art has been tweaked many years ago to be a striking art. As far as the last decade, most of what I’ve studied has been striking. And I think it’s just time for me to try out my striking.
It might be a little dangerous, but it’s not like we’re not in a dangerous sport. So I have the utmost confidence in what I do. And I think that Cung Le is a great striker. But I don’t think he’s prepared for an MMA striking match. And that’s just my strategic analysis of the match. So I’m going for it.
QUESTION: Cung, the stand‑up would seem to be your big strength in this fight, right?
LE: I think it’s a big smoke screen. Frank’s a very intelligent fighter. And of course, he’s going to put it out there that he’s going to strike with me. And really, I think, he’s going to test the waters a little bit and probably jump for half guard or look for the ankle locks and start hunting for my knees. That’s what I think.
I believe, of course, the battle starts early with Frank trying to get into my mind. Then trying to put out what he’s going to do out there, making me think that he’s going to strike. But, you know, I’m also a very intelligent fighter and I’m prepared for what Frank is going to come with. If he chooses to stand, (that’s) great. If he doesn’t, I’ll be on my bicycle, stepping out of the foot locks.
QUESTION: Cung, what’s your background? We know you’ve had some wrestling, but how is your ground game in wrestling and submissions?
LE: I was an All American in high school and I went to West Valley Junior College and I won the state there, too. I pretty much wrestled from the eighth grade to freestyle, to Greco Roman, to collegiate wrestling. I trained with Caesar and Hoff a bit when they were together. It was too much of a commute for me. I stopped going after three or four months.
And then I started doing strictly stand‑up. Now I go over to A.K. where I have Paul Shriner and Garth Taylor. Then I go out there and train. Jake comes up to the A.K. We have all kinds of great sparring partners and guys that are really round up in the stand‑up and the ground game. So I learn a lot.
I’m just excited to be part of this mega event. I’m going to focus and stay focused on Frank and not worry about who is next. I also know that things always happen in threes. So, watch out, Frank. It always happens in threes.
QUESTION: Frank, do you think this bout’s going to last very long?
SHAMROCK: Well, if Cung Le runs from me, I think that it might last a while. It will take me a little while to run him down. I think Cung Le has a good strategy. I know he’s going to punch, kick and then wrestle.
I don’t think it’s going to go very long. I don’t think it will go past two or three rounds. I’m going to push the pace really hard and try to finish it in two because my wife’s pregnant and I want to make sure I’m home with her just in case the baby pops out. Other than that, I don’t think it’s going to be a long fight.
QUESTION: Cung, your thoughts on the length?
LE: Frank can believe whatever he wants to believe. But we’ll see come March 29. If he believes he’s going to chase me down striking, great. I’ll feed him plenty of punches and kicks so he can run into all of them.
QUESTION: Frank, there are a lot of rumors that when you and Cung Le did spar, that he was a world class above you. How do you respond to those rumors?
SHAMROCK: Oh, well, they’re all true. Cung Le kicked my (butt). I was basically his sparring partner in his sport. We only did San Sho, and I sucked at San Sho. That was a great many years ago. And that was at the beginning of my understanding of striking. Now it’s just a different level, different story. But time will tell. You know, my actions in the ring will make everybody understand.
QUESTION: Frank, what is it like the three hours before a fight? What do you do? What do you think about?
SHAMROCK: I have a light meal about three hours before. Then I take a nap just after that. I drive to the arena about an hour and a half before the event. I check in. I read for about 30-40 minutes. I go out and say hi to my friends, family, sponsors and people that are there. And the last hour I warm‑up, focus my mind and go out and do my job.
QUESTION: What do you read?
SHAMROCK: Right now I’m reading the “Fred Factor,” which is a book on how to focus your life and be a unique and interesting, exceptional person.
QUESTION: Frank, it’s interesting that you’re talking about striking or going after a guy in the stand‑up who is really an accomplished stand‑up fighter, even though he’s relatively new to MMA. Is this kind of like a personal thing because of all the quote, un-quote (butt) kickings you got in the past? Is that why you want to beat him at his own game?
SHAMROCK: No, for me, it’s just what fighting is about. I’m personally challenging myself. If I fight somebody in their game and they kick my (butt), that’s the way it is. If I fight a wrestler and they outwrestle me, that’s the way it is. Mixed martial arts is my game and kicking and punching are a huge part of it.
For me, I saw the sport changing in 1999. It really developed into a striking sport around that time. And I, in turn, adjusted my style and got my striking prepared for this modern day striking art. I’ll put it to you this way: Cung Le is the right guy at the right time for me.
I don’t know, it may be a bad call, but as I go through my record you’ll see that I’ve never been knocked out, tapped out, submitted or gave up in an MMA match. So it’s time for me to try something new and different. Everyone figured I’d take down Phil Baroni and work on the ground on him and he ended up taking me down. I just think that Cung Le will end up doing the same thing.
QUESTION: There’s a lot of talk about Anderson Silva, the middleweight, being the best pound‑for‑pound fighter on the planet. What are your thoughts about that claim?
SHAMROCK: Well, I think I’ve been named that guy several times over the past 14 years. So I think that it’s fleeting. It’s exciting, but I certainly don’t think he’s the best in the world. I think he’s probably one of the best guys in the UFC.
But all the best fighters are not in the UFC. So, hopefully he can hang on to that and make something out of it and gain some fame. But if I ran into him, they’d be calling me that guy.
SHAW: Before you go to the next question, until someone beats Frank, then Frank is the single best in the world. If Cung should beat Frank on March 29 in San Jose, then Cung Le will be the best in the world. And as Frank said, there is no single organization that owns the best fights or the best fighters. But in this case, the best fighter in the world, hands down, bar none, for sure, is Frank Shamrock.
QUESTION: Cung, your kicks are very wild. Are you worried about one of your kicks and your legs getting caught? I know Frank can stand with you, but if he does take you down with one of your leg kicks, are you worried about that?
LE: I’ve been working on the ground too, so if he does take me down, I’ll scramble to get back on my feet so we can keep it standing where he wants it.
SHAMROCK: Thank you.
QUESTION: Gary, have you ever seen the same type of reaction from the fans as you have seen for this main event between Cung Le and Frank Shamrock?
SHAW: Well, you know, every fight has its hype and every fight hopefully is a great promotion. I’ve got to say on behalf of Frank, he understands great promotions and what promoters do.
I thought the Kimbo fight in Miami had a huge amount of heat. Now we’re coming into San Jose , and we’re coming into California on the west coast. For me, this is the biggest fight that we’ve had. I believe this is a lot hotter even than Baroni.
But this is a case where it has intense heat in the Bay Area. And, in this case, there are two different gyms, two different fighters with a distinct fan base – both for Frank and Cung. And probably people that dislike each fighter equally as much as they like each fighter. So in a way it’s a promoter’s dream.
The gate is showing that, the attendance is showing that and the fans are going to be rewarded with a great fight. As I sit and listen to what Frank is saying and what Cung Le is saying, even I’m starting to try to think what Frank is going to do when he comes out and how is he going to do? And how Cung is going to react? So for me, it’s a great fight.
QUESTION: Jake, what’s the difference in training for this fight as opposed to training you’re your last fight against Mike Pyle?
SHIELDS: There is a difference in the fights. One, this is going to be a five‑rounder, which is different, so you have to prepare a little more. They’re both good grapplers. (But) I think Drew’s a little stronger, a little more experienced.
So training is pretty similar. It is doing the same stuff. Basically I’m just ready. Only difference is I have a little more cardio in this one because I’m ready to fight five rounds instead of three.
QUESTION: Drew, what did you learn in your fight with Josh Koscheck?
SHIELDS: I learned from that fight that I wasn’t at the level that Koscheck was at; that I wasn’t going to try to wrestle with him. I didn’t wrestle at all in that fight. I planned on giving up the takedown or catch him into submission and trying to knock him out like I almost did a few times throughout the fight. I almost caught him on a couple of submissions and caught him with some knees. It worked out good for me.
Jake’s a good wrestler, but I think he would agree that neither of us are as good as Koscheck, who is undefeated as an NCAA Division 1 Champion. So I think the wrestling will be a little more both ways.
QUESTION: Drew, what is your prediction?
SHIELDS: I never predict fights. I just know it’s going to be one hell of a fight. And the rest of the card is so stacked as well. All night long it’s probably going to be the best fight card of not just the year, but maybe of the century.
QUESTION: Gary, is there any information on when the first CBS card will be held and what type of fights you would like to have on that?
SHAW: Yeah, there will be a CBS press release going out tomorrow announcing when the first fight card is and announcing who some of the fighters on that card are. So I don’t want to preempt it. But it is sooner, much sooner than later, and we think we have a great card put together, and we’re very, very excited to be on CBS.
I think that the announcement will surprise some people. It’s just exciting. This is the single biggest thing that I think will ever happen to any fighter or to MMA to have the ability to be seen by over 100 million eyeballs.
QUESTION: Can you leak the date on that at all when the fight will be?
SHAW: No, I don’t do that. CBS is going to release a worldwide press release tomorrow, and everybody will get it at the exact same time. Except Jake Shields and Frank – because they fight for me. I’m going to tell them the secret.
SHAMROCK: We’re going to get it right after the press release.
QUESTION: Drew, how concerned are you about this first fight in EliteXC being a title fight?
FICKETT: I don’t really think like that. Like Gary was saying earlier, I’m about the fights, man. I think it’s cool to fight in EliteXC. Gary’s treated us really well and they’re really organized, so I’d like to thank them for that. But I’m more excited to fight Jake than for a title, if you will.
QUESTION: Jake, as far as this winning streak that you have going, what has changed between your last loss, and now, aside from earning the black belt in Jujitsu?
SHIELDS: I’m just taking the sport a lot more serious. After my last loss, it sucked really bad. I hate losing. So it just got really serious. And cardio, I think cardio is the crucial key to fighting. Making sure you’re in shape. I take everything more serious.
QUESTION: Gary, you’ve got Gilbert Melendez, the Strikeforce lightweight champion, fighting on this card. Have you given more thought to inter‑promotional title fights with Gilbert maybe fighting KJ Noons or Keith Edwards or Robbie Lawler fighting Frank Shamrock?
SHAW: We always think in those terms. One of the differentiator for EliteXC is we allow our fighters to fight for other organizations as proven by Nick Diaz fighting Gomi, or Eddie Alvarez fighting in the Orient last week, and winning. I like Scott Coker very much. I think we do great co‑promotions together — the first one we did together in San Jose followed by this one.
So would I do that? Absolutely. You know, I have a lot of respect for Gilbert Melendez. I like him on a personal level. I think he’s a great kid. And I’d love to have him fight for an EliteXC belt against our top fighters as well.
Going back to what you said about Frank — Frank’s world class, and it’s only about the big fights. I like putting great fights together. I think Jake Shields is probably the best in the world. But I have a lot of respect for Drew. When we put a fight together, we’re interested for the fans and putting on the most competitive fights.
We think that Drew fits that bill. When he won over in England, it just proved our thoughts. So he earned the shot, now he’s fighting the best in the world. And like I said about Cung, if he beats Frank, he’s the best in the world. And in my book, if Drew beats Jake, then Drew’s going to be the best in the world.
When KJ beat Nick Diaz after the Nick Diaz beat Gomi, he was so proud to say I’m the best in the world because Gomi was the best. Nick beat him, and now I beat Nick. And I’m a firm believer in the man who beats the man who beats the man. I think those are the fights that really mean something that prove something.
So the short and the long answer is, yes, I would work with Strikeforce and Scott, for sure. And there are other organizations that I believe that I’d love to work with as well. When the UFC gets some religion, and allows their fighters to fight other fights, then that’s going to be the greatest thing ever for mixed martial arts.
QUESTION: Gary, when will we see two fighters from your organization, Robbie Lawler and Gina Carano, fight again? Can you give us an update?
SHAW: How about just waiting for tomorrow. As I said, there will be a CBS press release coming out tomorrow worldwide.
QUESTION: Cung, how you feel about your build‑up as far as transitioning to MMA and the opponents that you’ve fought? Do you think that it’s a jump and that Frank Shamrock could be a bit dangerous to your career?
LE: You know what, not at all. It’s a win‑win situation. Everyone’s been saying that I need to step up, so Frank is a huge step up. I’m just grateful that I’ll have the opportunity to fight Frank.
QUESTION: Jake, how does it feel fighting in front of basically what’s going to be a home crowd?
SHIELDS: I want to fight in my home area so it is going to be interesting and just a great feeling having all my friends and fans there. It’s both good and bad. It’s nice having that support, but it’s going to make me a little more nervous, too. But it’s nice to be at home.
QUESTION: Cung, how is your transition game as far as going from stand‑up into the ground game?
LE: The transition has been good. I’ve got a great camp, a lot of good guys to train with. I’ve trained with Jake. I’ve trained with Koscheck. I’ve trained with those guys, and against those guys you have to learn, and you’ve got to learn quickly. I’m always a student of the game. I’m just very excited to be fighting Frank Shamrock.
QUESTION: Frank, San Jose has become one of the better markets in the country for MMA. In many ways the fight with Cung Le is sort of the culmination of it since he was the semifinal in the big fight with Cesar Gracie a few years ago. It’s sort of been going towards a fight with Cung Le. Where do you feel MMA in San Jose is going to go from here? Do you think it’s going to continue to have the success it’s had so far?
SHAMROCK: I definitely think the success of it will continue. The reason we’ve always done so well here, and Cung will attest to this, San Jose , we’re a small big city. Everybody loves martial arts. We’re a very tight‑knit community here. You know, they really support their martial arts here. They really support their martial arts competitors.
You know, this is a win‑win situation for Cung, for the sport and for everybody else. I’m the one who has everything to lose here because if I lose this fight it changes the landscape of what’s going on. But it’s a sacrifice I’m willing to take. Because if I do lose, maybe Cung Le will fight me again, maybe he won’t. But either way, something monumental will have happened here. That’s what San Jose is looking for in mixed martial arts.
It was monumental when I came here in 1997 and started teaching everybody mixed martial arts. It’s now time to see where we go from here.
QUESTION: What kind of bread is Kimbo making?
SHAW: Well, he makes little white bread. He trains hard, so he gets mostly whole grain. So I know Frank and Jake, and Cung and Drew would be very proud of me for only giving him healthy bread.
One thing I don’t discuss is what fighters get paid. But no fighter has ever left us for money. Nobody has ever left us because we didn’t treat every fighter whether they have a belt or don’t, like a champion that they are. So if you fight for EliteXC, believe me, you get treated like a royal prince.
QUESTION: Drew, what are your closing thoughts?
FICKETT: Oh, I just want to say good luck to everybody. Good luck with training. Thanks to Gary and Scott for giving me a chance, a good, fair contract and for treating the fighters well. Good luck to Jake. We’ll see what happens.
QUESTION: Jake, closing comments?
SHIELDS: Yeah, I want to thank Gary and the rest of the EliteXC people for giving me a title shot. Thank you Drew for stepping up and fighting me. I think everyone should watch the fight. It will be a great fight. I think Drew and I match up really well. He’s a great fighter. It sounds like he’s coming in ready for war. I know I am. I definitely plan on putting on a good fight. It’s going to be a great, great fight for the EliteXC world title.
QUESTION: Cung, before your closing comments, do you think that Frank’s making a mistake by fighting you at this time?
LE: You know what, I can’t say that. I’ve got to thank Frank for giving me the shot at fighting him and for his title. Like Frank says, you’ve got to take the risk, make things happen. So I think win or lose, this is going to be a big fight.
Definitely, you know, with all of the fights stacked underneath us, we’ve got a big load to carry on our shoulders because there are going to be some great fights and we’ve definitely got to come out that night and perform.
I’m just looking forward to it. So for all the fans, don’t miss it. Better get your tickets before it sells out.
QUESTION: Frank, closing comments?
SHAMROCK: Thanks everybody, Scott Coker, Strikeforce, Gary Shaw, Pro Elite and Showtime. This is what mixed martial arts is truly supposed to be about. I wish all the best to all the fighters fighting. Drew, you guys kick ass. You know, this is the future right here.
I think this is really a really monumental card. Not just because it’s happening in San Jose , but because of the quality of fighters on the card, and the quality of fights I think that we’re going to see or they’re going to see.
Yeah, you know what, I want to thank Cung for stepping up. It was time for him to take some risks. You know, there is no bigger risk than fighting me. I think we’re going to have a great show. So thanks, everybody.
QUESTION: Gary, closing comments?
SHAW: I thank you. First of all, I wanted to thank Scott Coker, my co‑promoter for working hand in hand with myself and my staff. It’s going to be a terrific night of fighting. And always, there’s no one bigger in our organization than the fighters — because without the fighters, there is no promotion. Without the fighters, there are no great fights.
So, for each and every fighter on this call whether you fight for me or you fight for Scott, it doesn’t make a difference. I personally thank you for taking the challenge, because every one on this card that is fighting is in tough fights and are in real challenges. So I thank you all very much.
Again, all credit to Scott Coker and Strikeforce, as well as my staff at EliteXC for being able to bring this card to San Jose and on national television on a worldwide stage. To Ken Hershman and Showtime, I always thank them for having the vision to put this on the air that will now enable us to go on to CBS primetime. It’s going to be tremendous for mixed martial arts. This is the explosion that guys like Frank Shamrock have waited many, many years for to happen.
So, Frank, thank you for making this happen. Cung, thank you for being willing to step up and take the challenge. Jake, you know, I think you’re the best fighter in the world at this weight right now. And Drew, all the confidence in the world to you. May the best man win. And always, I wish you all the health, safety, and welfare of coming out of the cage in great shape. Thank you all so much.
Weeks after he was awarded a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt, Jake Shields will try to add another belt to his wardrobe when he faces Drew Fickett for the vacant EliteXC world welterweight crown March 29, at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif.
In another outstanding match on a sensational mixed martial arts card headlined by a Strikeforce middleweight title fight between defending champion Frank Shamrock and Cung Le, former Pride Fighting Championship star Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos will throw down with EliteXC standout Joey “Dream Smasher” Villasenor in a middleweight scrap.
Tickets, starting at $30, are on sale at HP Pavilion (408) 287-7070, at Ticketmaster locations (408) 998-TIXS, Ticketmaster online (www.ticketmaster.com), EliteXC’s official website (www.ProElite.com) and Strikeforce’s official website (www.Strikeforceusa.net). Doors will open at 5 p.m. The first live fight is at 6 o’clock PT.
“A fight between popular Bay Area major draws and arch-rivals, the legendary Frank Shamrock and the unbeaten sensation, Cung Le, could sell out San Jose by itself, but this fight card will end up stacked from top to bottom,’’ EliteXC Live Events President Gary Shaw said.
The stellar eight-bout event will mark the second collaboration between Los Angeles-based ProElite, Inc.’s EliteXC, and Strikeforce. The first, which featured Shamrock versus Phil Baroni on June 22, 2007, in San Jose, was a major success.
“The HP Pavilion is a terrific venue that’s always drawn some of the biggest crowds in MMA,’’ Shaw said. “With the addition of a Shields-Fickett EliteXC world title fight and a great fight between Villasenor and Santos, fans in attendance and those watching on SHOWTIME will be treated to an outstanding night of fights.
“Jake’s been waiting to prove he’s the world’s best middleweight and now he gets his chance against a tough, talented veteran like Fickett. The Villasenor-Santos fight will be a war.’’
In addition to the three aforementioned fights, two more bouts will be televised live on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast). Fans can watch pre- and post-fight interviews at ProElite.com.
Regarding the recently added matches, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker said: “The Shields-Fickett and Santos-Villasenor fights are both highly competitive matchups, each bringing together fighters who are amongst the best in their area of expertise.
“In one, you have two heavy-handed punchers, almost guaranteeing there will be a knockout. In the other, you have two exceptional ground technicians who can submit an opponent from virtually any position on the mat.
“These are the types of fights that make MMA so great and unique and we’re looking forward to bringing them to San Jose.’’
The 170-pound title fight between Shields (20-4-1) and Fickett (31-5) will be a fun and terrific technical fight between two modest but supremely confident and talented submission artists in perhaps the toughest tests in their careers.
The winner will become EliteXC’s first world champ at welterweight and third overall. Robbie Lawler (middleweight) and KJ Noons (lightweight) are the other EliteXC belt-holders.
Unbeaten since December 2004 and a winner of nine in a row, including two straight by submission, Shields (http://jakeshields.proelite.com) has long been regarded as a monster in his weight class. Now, he has an opportunity to not only prove it but add even more credibility to his well-established name.
“This is my dream come true and I’m really excited,’’ said Shields, who re-signed with EliteXC in November 2007 and has gone 2-0 since. In impressive performances on SHOWTIME, Shields defeated “Charuto” Verissimo (strikes) and Mike Pyle (rear naked choke).
Shields, 29, a life-long vegetarian who was raised in a remote area in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of Northern California, holds notable victories over Dave Menne, Carlos Condit, Yushin Okami and Hayato “Mach” Sakurai.
“It was a little frustrating but I knew if I was patient my time would come and I’d get my shot at a world belt,’’ Shields said. “In a way it was a blessing in disguise I had to wait so long on the sidelines. I fought a lot of top 25 guys. That wealth of experience I gained is a great asset.
“This really is a good fight. I respect Drew. He’s game, experienced. I just think I’ll be too much. I’m going to overwhelm him, make an example of him. It’s a little nerve-wracking because I’ll have so many friends there, but it’s exciting to be fighting at the HP Pavilion.
“I am proud to be fighting for the EliteXC world title. They have treated me well, they have grown continually and now they’ve really blown up. I look forward to wearing and keeping the EliteXC belt around my waist for a while and representing the organization with pride.’’
Fickett (http://drewfickett.proelite.com) is no stranger to major fights and won’t crumble under the pressure of being on the big stage and under the bright lights. He’s fully aware this is his chance to demonstrate he is among the world’s best in MMA.
“I’m definitely taking this fight seriously and am pretty motivated that’s for sure,’’ said Fickett, who could be Shields’ sternest challenge since Jake defeated Condit and Okami in back-to-back performances in April 2006. “I’m up for the challenge. Jake’s awesome. Some say he’s boring, but he chokes everybody and I like that. It’s cool and sounds pretty exciting to me.
“Jake has a real methodical game, but he’s smart and uses his strengths well. We both have a really competitive attitude so I guess we are similar in that regard. Style-wise, we may negate each other’s strengths, so that could mean this will wind up a pretty exciting fight.
“This is the kind of fight that I hope and expect will bring out the best in each of us.’’
A winner of three in a row, Fickett, 28, who was born in Tucson, Ariz., and resides in Phoenix, has a solid resume. He’s faced excellent opposition and owns wins over Kenny Florian, Josh Koscheck, Kurt Pellegrino, Josh Neer, Dennis Hallman, Carlo Prater and Edwin Dewees.
“I’ve been in and out of organizations and fought some great opponents, maybe not at the time but they were always very formidable and in the top 10,’’ said Fickett, who is coming off a first-round submission (rear naked choke) over Mark Weir on Dec. 1, 2007 in London.
A perennial contender at this weight, the experienced Fickett may be underrated by some but his record is as impressive as Shields’ – if not more so. “It’s hard to say if beat better guys because it all depends at where you are at – and everybody’s good at this level,’’ Fickett said.
Like Shields, Fickett is well-versed in the submission game and has forced opponents to surrender in nearly two thirds of his wins (20). Shields has won three of his last four fights by submission and has a total of seven in his career.
“Whatever way it ends, I will be 100 percent ready to go five rounds,’’ Fickett said. “No one wants to get into the fourth or fifth rounds and get tired and maybe get hurt.’’
Fickett, who says his “last win is always the most important,’’ will be making his initial start for EliteXC. “I really like to be able to travel and do my own thing,’’ he said. “Gary (Shaw) has been very cool about signing me to an open contract which would enable me to do so.’’
Santos, 30, a member of Brazil’s famed Chute Boxe squad, will be making his United States debut as well as the first of three fights he signed to compete for Strikeforce. A former light heavy (205 pounds), it will be the second bout of his 11-year career contested at 185.
“I always look for the knockout,” said Santos, a stone-faced striker whose go-for-broke, crowd-pleasing approach has helped him record 11 KOs out of his 15 victories. “This will be a duel between his boxing and my Muay Thai techniques. Villasenor is an ideal opponent for me.”
The bout with Villasenor will be Santos’ second in less than a month. In Tokyo March 5, he displayed vicious striking to twice knock down Makoto Takimoto en route to submitting (heel hook) the Olympic Games judo gold medalist in the first round and to snap a two-bout losing streak.
“Last year was a tough year for Chute Box and to those who fought in PRIDE, so it was important for me to get off to a good start in 2008,’’ Santos said. “The people who like to watch fights can always count on me to fight with determination and give it my all.
“Anybody who faces me knows they will have hard moments in the cage. My opponents know they need to get ready for a war because as long as I can breathe, I’ll look for the win. I’m not saying I’ll beat everybody, but I’ll exchange blows with everybody. You can count on it.’’
Villasenor (http://drewfickett.proelite.com), a native of Albuquerque, N.M., and a protégé of MMA guru, Greg Jackson, will be seeking his second consecutive victory for EliteXC. Villasenor was penciled in to face Joe Riggs, but Riggs withdrew with a back injury.
In his last outing, Villasenor regained his winning ways with a hard-fought, split decision over Riki Fukuda on “Uprising’’ Sept. 15, 2007, in Honolulu, on SHOWTIME. It came one start after Villasenor suffered a second-round TKO to “Ninja’’ Rua for the EliteXC 185-pound title.
“There should be some real fireworks in this fight with Santos,” Villasenor, 32, a former King of the Cage champion said. “I really don’t know much about Santos’ ground game – if he even likes hanging out on the ground. I know he’s a big banger so it’s an exciting matchup.
“I need to be more technical than him and be better conditioned. Like wine, I think I get better with age. People should look for a more technically sound Joey Villasenor in 2008. This will be a great fight to kick off the year with.”