Shields picks up Strikeforce title with win over ‘Mayhem’
In the battle for the vacant Strikeforce middleweight belt, Jake Shields won a unanimous decision 48-47, 49-46, 49-46. Despite having the Chicago crowd squarely against him, Shields employed an effective, smothering offense to grind out the win over Jason "Mayhem" Miller.
In the first round, Shields got a quick takedown, and did some damage on the ground. Mayhem got up, but then was taken down again quickly. When Miller got back to his feet, he picked Shields up for a takedown, which got a large cheer from the crowd.
The second round was incredibly close, as the two spent it mostly on the ground. Neither fighter got close to a submission, though. Miller dominated the third, sinking in a rear naked choke near the end of the round. Shields was saved by the bell, because if the round would have lasted just a few more seconds Shields would likely not have made it.
In the fourth, an exhausted Shields got a takedown but did little with it. When referee "Big" John McCarthy stood them up, Mayhem landed some kicks before Shields took him down, again. Every time Miller tried to roll out, Shields stuck to him. In the fifth round, Shields continued his attack of taking Miller down and sticking on him like white on rice. For much of the round, he had Miller's back, but when Miller did get out, he tried and quickly gave up on a guillotine.
The crowd in suburban Chicago showered Shields with boos as he walked out of the arena, but his attack was effective. After the fight, Shields said that he would fight at middleweight or welterweight, and that Cung Le, the former holder of the middleweight belt, is afraid of Shields. Le vacated the belt after pursuing a film career, but he will fight again on Dec. 19 against Scott Smith.
Related Videos:
Comments